diff --git a/src/main/java/org/apache/sling/launchpad/base/impl/StartupManager.java b/src/main/java/org/apache/sling/launchpad/base/impl/StartupManager.java
index bed8665..1d07fe0 100644
--- a/src/main/java/org/apache/sling/launchpad/base/impl/StartupManager.java
+++ b/src/main/java/org/apache/sling/launchpad/base/impl/StartupManager.java
@@ -82,7 +82,7 @@
 
         // populate the sling target start level from the framework one, if not set,
         // otherwise overwrite the framework one
-        if (null == properties.get(SharedConstants.SLING_INSTALL_TARGETSTARTLEVEL)) {
+        if (properties.containsKey(SharedConstants.SLING_INSTALL_TARGETSTARTLEVEL)) {
             properties.put(SharedConstants.SLING_INSTALL_TARGETSTARTLEVEL, properties.get(Constants.FRAMEWORK_BEGINNING_STARTLEVEL));
         } else {
             properties.put(Constants.FRAMEWORK_BEGINNING_STARTLEVEL, properties.get(SharedConstants.SLING_INSTALL_TARGETSTARTLEVEL));