diff --git a/source/de/anomic/http/httpResponseHeader.java b/source/de/anomic/http/httpResponseHeader.java
index 242450818..ce1f62c32 100755
--- a/source/de/anomic/http/httpResponseHeader.java
+++ b/source/de/anomic/http/httpResponseHeader.java
@@ -138,6 +138,8 @@ public class httpResponseHeader extends httpHeader {
             }
         } catch(IllegalCharsetNameException e) {
             serverLog.logSevere("httpHeader", "Charset in header is illegal: '"+ charSetName +"'\n    "+ toString());
+            // use system default
+            return Charset.defaultCharset();
         }
         return Charset.forName(charSetName);
     }