diff --git a/common/source/java/ch/systemsx/cisd/common/utilities/ClassUtils.java b/common/source/java/ch/systemsx/cisd/common/utilities/ClassUtils.java
index 9312922d319907256f42c9e97d32db1eb3f3839e..df1facee4ed00dbd3d3d19eac186b9a0c0caea77 100644
--- a/common/source/java/ch/systemsx/cisd/common/utilities/ClassUtils.java
+++ b/common/source/java/ch/systemsx/cisd/common/utilities/ClassUtils.java
@@ -266,9 +266,10 @@ public final class ClassUtils
      * This is useful when you want to set a <code>private</code> field on which you do not have access. Note that
      * this method should only be used in very special cases. You should consider it as a hack.
      * </p>
+     * 
+     * @return a <code>true</code> if <code>fieldName</code> has been modified.
      */
-    public final static void setFieldValue(final Object object, final String fieldName, final Object newValue)
-            throws IllegalArgumentException
+    public final static boolean setFieldValue(final Object object, final String fieldName, final Object newValue)
     {
         assert object != null : "Unspecified object.";
         final Class<?> clazz = object.getClass();
@@ -279,7 +280,7 @@ public final class ClassUtils
             {
                 field.setAccessible(true);
                 field.set(object, newValue);
-                return;
+                return true;
             }
         } catch (final SecurityException ex)
         {
@@ -288,9 +289,7 @@ public final class ClassUtils
         } catch (final IllegalAccessException ex)
         {
         }
-        throw new IllegalArgumentException(String.format(
-                "Cannot set field '%s' of class '%s' to given new value '%s'.", fieldName, clazz.getSimpleName(),
-                newValue));
+        return false;
     }
 
     /**
diff --git a/common/sourceTest/java/ch/systemsx/cisd/common/utilities/ClassUtilsTest.java b/common/sourceTest/java/ch/systemsx/cisd/common/utilities/ClassUtilsTest.java
index a04f840e21d2e89391df71ede0ff6746f1d023f8..44ca0f90ef57526b47f874c3eca35114515b6c76 100644
--- a/common/sourceTest/java/ch/systemsx/cisd/common/utilities/ClassUtilsTest.java
+++ b/common/sourceTest/java/ch/systemsx/cisd/common/utilities/ClassUtilsTest.java
@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@
 package ch.systemsx.cisd.common.utilities;
 
 import static org.testng.AssertJUnit.assertEquals;
+import static org.testng.AssertJUnit.assertFalse;
 import static org.testng.AssertJUnit.assertNotNull;
 import static org.testng.AssertJUnit.assertNull;
 import static org.testng.AssertJUnit.assertSame;
@@ -146,13 +147,7 @@ public final class ClassUtilsTest
         } catch (final AssertionError error)
         {
         }
-        try
-        {
-            ClassUtils.setFieldValue(myClass, "doesNotExist", null);
-            fail("Field name 'doesNotExist' not found.");
-        } catch (final IllegalArgumentException ex)
-        {
-        }
+        assertFalse(ClassUtils.setFieldValue(myClass, "doesNotExist", null));
     }
 
     @Test