diff --git a/src/memory/params.py b/src/memory/params.py
index ca8a70c6..359c9bf8 100644
--- a/src/memory/params.py
+++ b/src/memory/params.py
@@ -329,6 +329,22 @@ class Params(object):
             value_to_use = value if value is not None else node.getAttribute(attr)  # we use value (user defined) if it exist, else we use node's default value
             if node.getAttribute('type') == 'bool':
                 return value_to_use.lower() not in ('false', '0', 'no')
+            elif node.getAttribute('type') == 'list':
+                options = [option for option in node.childNodes if option.nodeName == 'option']
+                values = [option.getAttribute('value') for option in options]
+                if value_to_use not in values:  # value_to_use is probably empty
+                    selected = [option for option in options if option.getAttribute('selected') == 'true']
+                    cat, param = node.parentNode.getAttribute('name'), node.getAttribute('name')
+                    if len(selected) == 1:
+                        value_to_use = selected[0].getAttribute('value')
+                        log.info(_("Unset parameter (%(cat)s, %(param)s) of type list will use the default option '%(value)s'") %
+                                 {'cat': cat, 'param': param, 'value': value_to_use})
+                        return value_to_use
+                    if len(selected) == 0:
+                        log.error(_('Parameter (%(cat)s, %(param)s) of type list has no default option!') % {'cat': cat, 'param': param})
+                    else:
+                        log.error(_('Parameter (%(cat)s, %(param)s) of type list has more than one default option!') % {'cat': cat, 'param': param})
+                    raise exceptions.DataError
             return value_to_use
         return node.getAttribute(attr)