diff --git a/api/http/handler/stacks/stack_delete.go b/api/http/handler/stacks/stack_delete.go
index 3844a4d7e..95ec030ef 100644
--- a/api/http/handler/stacks/stack_delete.go
+++ b/api/http/handler/stacks/stack_delete.go
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 package stacks
 
 import (
+	"log"
 	"net/http"
 	"strconv"
 
@@ -22,6 +23,7 @@ func (handler *Handler) stackDelete(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) *htt
 	}
 
 	externalStack, _ := request.RetrieveBooleanQueryParameter(r, "external", true)
+	log.Printf("External stack value: %v", externalStack)
 	if externalStack {
 		return handler.deleteExternalStack(r, w, stackID)
 	}
diff --git a/api/http/request/request.go b/api/http/request/request.go
index 16ba4590b..ee56b0d05 100644
--- a/api/http/request/request.go
+++ b/api/http/request/request.go
@@ -133,6 +133,9 @@ func RetrieveNumericQueryParameter(request *http.Request, name string, optional
 	if err != nil {
 		return 0, err
 	}
+	if queryParameter == "" && optional {
+		return 0, nil
+	}
 	return strconv.Atoi(queryParameter)
 }