diff --git a/src/main/java/ca/uhn/fhir/jpa/starter/HapiProperties.java b/src/main/java/ca/uhn/fhir/jpa/starter/HapiProperties.java
index e58490d..a4525d2 100644
--- a/src/main/java/ca/uhn/fhir/jpa/starter/HapiProperties.java
+++ b/src/main/java/ca/uhn/fhir/jpa/starter/HapiProperties.java
@@ -178,14 +178,10 @@ public class HapiProperties {
     }
 
     private static String getProperty(String propertyName, String defaultValue) {
-        Properties properties = HapiProperties.getProperties();
+        String value = getProperty(propertyName);
 
-        if (properties != null) {
-            String value = properties.getProperty(propertyName);
-
-            if (value != null && value.length() > 0) {
-                return value;
-            }
+        if (value != null && value.length() > 0) {
+            return value;
         }
 
         return defaultValue;