diff --git a/library/Icinga/Web/Form/Element/Number.php b/library/Icinga/Web/Form/Element/Number.php
index 31bec6433..f7fa5292a 100644
--- a/library/Icinga/Web/Form/Element/Number.php
+++ b/library/Icinga/Web/Form/Element/Number.php
@@ -134,7 +134,7 @@ class Number extends FormElement
     {
         $this->setValue($value);
         $value = $this->getValue();
-        if ($this->isRequired() && ! is_numeric($value)) {
+        if ($value !== '' && ! is_numeric($value)) {
             $this->addError(sprintf(t('\'%s\' is not a valid number'), $value));
             return false;
         }