diff --git a/spring-boot-starter-sitemesh/src/main/java/org/sitemesh/autoconfigure/SiteMeshAutoConfiguration.java b/spring-boot-starter-sitemesh/src/main/java/org/sitemesh/autoconfigure/SiteMeshAutoConfiguration.java
index e791af6..20ee941 100644
--- a/spring-boot-starter-sitemesh/src/main/java/org/sitemesh/autoconfigure/SiteMeshAutoConfiguration.java
+++ b/spring-boot-starter-sitemesh/src/main/java/org/sitemesh/autoconfigure/SiteMeshAutoConfiguration.java
@@ -55,9 +55,9 @@ public void setMappings(List<HashMap<String, String>> mappings) {
     private String metaTagName;
     @Value("${sitemesh.decorator.tagRuleBundles:}")
     private List<String> bundles;
-    @Value("${sitemesh.decorator.attribute:}")
+    @Value("${sitemesh.decorator.attribute:#{null}}")
     private String attribute;
-    @Value("${sitemesh.decorator.default:}")
+    @Value("${sitemesh.decorator.default:#{null}}")
     private String defaultPath;
 
     @Bean