diff --git a/src/java/org/apache/solr/common/params/ModifiableSolrParams.java b/src/java/org/apache/solr/common/params/ModifiableSolrParams.java
index 9f4bccf0fa5..a679138962b 100644
--- a/src/java/org/apache/solr/common/params/ModifiableSolrParams.java
+++ b/src/java/org/apache/solr/common/params/ModifiableSolrParams.java
@@ -73,7 +73,7 @@ public class ModifiableSolrParams extends SolrParams
    * Add the given values to any existing name
    */
   public void add( String name, String ... val ) {
-    String[] old = vals.get( name );
+    String[] old = vals.put(name, val);
     if( old != null ) {
       int i =0;
       if( val == null || val.length < 1 ) {
@@ -95,9 +95,6 @@ public class ModifiableSolrParams extends SolrParams
         vals.put( name, both );
       }
     }
-    else {
-      vals.put( name, val );
-    }
   }
   
   /**