diff --git a/src/test/java/org/gcube/gcat/client/ContextTest.java b/src/test/java/org/gcube/gcat/client/ContextTest.java
index a1e2355..819a743 100644
--- a/src/test/java/org/gcube/gcat/client/ContextTest.java
+++ b/src/test/java/org/gcube/gcat/client/ContextTest.java
@@ -31,7 +31,7 @@ public class ContextTest {
 	
 	protected static final String GCAT_PROPERTIES_FILENAME = "gcat.properties"; 
 	public static final String GCAT_URL_PROPERTY = "GCAT_URL_PROPERTY";
-	public static final String GCAT_URL;
+	public static String GCAT_URL;
 	
 	
 	public static final String DEFAULT_TEST_CONTEXT_NAME;
@@ -61,12 +61,12 @@ public class ContextTest {
 		try {
 			// load the properties file
 			gcatProperties.load(input);
-		} catch (IOException e) {
-			throw new RuntimeException(e);
+			GCAT_URL = gcatProperties.getProperty(GCAT_URL_PROPERTY);
+		} catch (Exception e) {
+			// throw new RuntimeException(e);
+			GCAT_URL = null;
 		}
 		
-		GCAT_URL = gcatProperties.getProperty(GCAT_URL_PROPERTY);
-		
 		if(GCAT_URL!=null){
 			try {
 				GCatClientDiscovery.forceToURL(GCAT_URL);