diff --git a/para-server/src/main/java/com/erudika/para/server/utils/HealthUtils.java b/para-server/src/main/java/com/erudika/para/server/utils/HealthUtils.java
index 165f33f1..867bb842 100644
--- a/para-server/src/main/java/com/erudika/para/server/utils/HealthUtils.java
+++ b/para-server/src/main/java/com/erudika/para/server/utils/HealthUtils.java
@@ -158,6 +158,8 @@ private String loadConfigFile(String confFile) throws IOException {
 			try (InputStream ref = getClass().getClassLoader().getResourceAsStream("reference.conf");
 						InputStream config = Optional.ofNullable(Para.getFileStore().load(confFile)).orElse(ref)) {
 				return new String(config.readAllBytes(), StandardCharsets.UTF_8);
+			} catch (Exception e) {
+				return "";
 			}
 		}