diff --git a/core/src/main/java/com/opensymphony/xwork2/ognl/OgnlUtil.java b/core/src/main/java/com/opensymphony/xwork2/ognl/OgnlUtil.java
index 8c17902290..ecd226d394 100644
--- a/core/src/main/java/com/opensymphony/xwork2/ognl/OgnlUtil.java
+++ b/core/src/main/java/com/opensymphony/xwork2/ognl/OgnlUtil.java
@@ -194,7 +194,7 @@ private Set<Class<?>> parseClasses(String commaDelimitedClasses) {
             try {
                 classes.add(Class.forName(className));
             } catch (ClassNotFoundException e) {
-                throw new ConfigurationException("Cannot load class for exclusion/exemption configuration: " + className, e);
+                LOG.warn("Class: {} doesn't exist, ignoring it!", className);
             }
         }