diff --git a/src/libstrongswan/settings/settings.c b/src/libstrongswan/settings/settings.c
index e235e3c51..acf9160d2 100644
--- a/src/libstrongswan/settings/settings.c
+++ b/src/libstrongswan/settings/settings.c
@@ -856,7 +856,7 @@ static bool load_files_internal(private_settings_t *this, section_t *parent,
 
 	if (pattern == NULL || !pattern[0])
 	{	/* TODO: Clear parent if merge is FALSE? */
-		return FALSE;
+		return TRUE;
 	}
 
 	section = settings_section_create(NULL);