diff --git a/src/memory/params.py b/src/memory/params.py
index 020d9932..e075c083 100644
--- a/src/memory/params.py
+++ b/src/memory/params.py
@@ -358,21 +358,21 @@ class Params(object):
             if node.getAttribute('type') == 'int':
                 return int(value_to_use)
             elif node.getAttribute('type') == 'list':
+                assert not value_to_use  # only accept <option selected...> and not <param value...>
                 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(_(u'Parameter (%(cat)s, %(param)s) of type list has no default option!') % {'cat': cat, 'param': param})
-                    else:
-                        log.error(_(u'Parameter (%(cat)s, %(param)s) of type list has more than one default option!') % {'cat': cat, 'param': param})
-                    raise exceptions.DataError
+                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(_(u'Parameter (%(cat)s, %(param)s) of type list has no default option!') % {'cat': cat, 'param': param})
+                else:
+                    log.error(_(u'Parameter (%(cat)s, %(param)s) of type list has more than one default option!') % {'cat': cat, 'param': param})
+                raise exceptions.DataError
             elif node.getAttribute('type') == 'jids_list':
                 if not value_to_use:
                     log.debug(u"jids list value is empty")