diff --git a/buildpacks/java/java/detect.go b/buildpacks/java/java/detect.go
index 0aceb5e2..68936410 100644
--- a/buildpacks/java/java/detect.go
+++ b/buildpacks/java/java/detect.go
@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@ type Detect struct {
 }
 
 func (d Detect) checkConfigs(cr libpak.ConfigurationResolver) bool {
-	if _, defined := cr.Resolve("BP_FUNCTION"); defined {
+	if val, defined := cr.Resolve("BP_FUNCTION"); defined && val != "" {
 		return true
 	}
 
diff --git a/buildpacks/java/tests/detect_test.go b/buildpacks/java/tests/detect_test.go
index 28665586..41f8abd4 100644
--- a/buildpacks/java/tests/detect_test.go
+++ b/buildpacks/java/tests/detect_test.go
@@ -90,7 +90,21 @@ func testDetect(t *testing.T, when spec.G, it spec.S) {
 
 		when("BP_FUNCTION is not configured", func() {
 			it.Before(func() {
-				Expect(os.Unsetenv("BP_FUNCTION")).To(Succeed())
+				t.Setenv("BP_FUNCTION", "")
+				Expect(os.Unsetenv("BP_FUNCTION")).To(Succeed()) // needed in combination with above, so original value will be restored
+			})
+
+			it("fails detection", func() {
+				result, err := detect.Detect(context)
+				Expect(err).NotTo(HaveOccurred())
+
+				Expect(result.Pass).To(BeFalse())
+			})
+		})
+
+		when("BP_FUNCTION is empty", func() {
+			it.Before(func() {
+				t.Setenv("BP_FUNCTION", "")
 			})
 
 			it("fails detection", func() {