diff --git a/akka-actor/src/main/scala/akka/config/Config.scala b/akka-actor/src/main/scala/akka/config/Config.scala
index 4dcdbd40e5..bf57a161b5 100644
--- a/akka-actor/src/main/scala/akka/config/Config.scala
+++ b/akka-actor/src/main/scala/akka/config/Config.scala
@@ -73,7 +73,7 @@ object Config {
           "\n\t3. Define 'AKKA_HOME' environment variable pointing to the root of the Akka distribution." +
           "\nI have no way of finding the '" + confName + "' configuration file." +
           "\nUsing default values everywhere.")
-        Configuration.fromString("<akka></akka>") // default empty config
+        Configuration.fromString("akka {}") // default empty config
       }
     } catch {
       case e =>
diff --git a/akka-actor/src/main/scala/akka/config/Configuration.scala b/akka-actor/src/main/scala/akka/config/Configuration.scala
index 6756a0b89f..aabdc5962f 100644
--- a/akka-actor/src/main/scala/akka/config/Configuration.scala
+++ b/akka-actor/src/main/scala/akka/config/Configuration.scala
@@ -68,7 +68,13 @@ class Configuration(val map: Map[String, Any]) {
 
   def getString(key: String, defaultValue: String): String = getString(key).getOrElse(defaultValue)
 
-  def getList(key: String): Seq[String] = map(key).asInstanceOf[Seq[String]]
+  def getList(key: String): Seq[String] = {
+    try {
+      map(key).asInstanceOf[Seq[String]]
+    } catch {
+      case _ => Seq.empty[String]
+    }
+  }
 
   def getInt(key: String): Option[Int] = {
     try {