diff --git a/core/src/main/resources/template/xhtml/controlheader-core.ftl b/core/src/main/resources/template/xhtml/controlheader-core.ftl
index b7a77959e..d121897d7 100644
--- a/core/src/main/resources/template/xhtml/controlheader-core.ftl
+++ b/core/src/main/resources/template/xhtml/controlheader-core.ftl
@@ -66,7 +66,7 @@ ${parameters.label?html}<#t/>
 <#if parameters.required?default(false) && parameters.requiredposition?default("right") == 'right'>
  <span class="required">*</span><#t/>
 </#if>
-${parameters.labelseparator!":"?html}<#t/>
+${parameters.labelseparator?default(":")?html}<#t/>
 <#include "/${parameters.templateDir}/xhtml/tooltip.ftl" /> 
 </label><#t/>
 </#if>