diff --git a/json_config.hpp b/json_config.hpp
index 883720f..b0acddc 100644
--- a/json_config.hpp
+++ b/json_config.hpp
@@ -104,15 +104,18 @@
             confFile = fs::path{confBasePath} / appName / fileName;
         }
 
-        if (!fs::exists(confFile) && !isOptional)
+        if (!fs::exists(confFile))
         {
-            log<level::ERR>("No JSON config file found",
-                            entry("DEFAULT_FILE=%s", confFile.c_str()));
-            throw std::runtime_error("No JSON config file found");
-        }
-        else
-        {
-            confFile.clear();
+            if (!isOptional)
+            {
+                log<level::ERR>("No JSON config file found",
+                                entry("DEFAULT_FILE=%s", confFile.c_str()));
+                throw std::runtime_error("No JSON config file found");
+            }
+            else
+            {
+                confFile.clear();
+            }
         }
 
         return confFile;