diff --git a/deeplearning4j/deeplearning4j-ui-parent/deeplearning4j-vertx/src/main/java/org/deeplearning4j/ui/VertxUIServer.java b/deeplearning4j/deeplearning4j-ui-parent/deeplearning4j-vertx/src/main/java/org/deeplearning4j/ui/VertxUIServer.java
index 56a3f2e63..ddc8187e4 100644
--- a/deeplearning4j/deeplearning4j-ui-parent/deeplearning4j-vertx/src/main/java/org/deeplearning4j/ui/VertxUIServer.java
+++ b/deeplearning4j/deeplearning4j-ui-parent/deeplearning4j-vertx/src/main/java/org/deeplearning4j/ui/VertxUIServer.java
@@ -369,7 +369,7 @@ public class VertxUIServer extends AbstractVerticle implements UIServer {
 
         //Check port property
         int port = instancePort == null ? DEFAULT_UI_PORT : instancePort;
-        String portProp = System.getenv(DL4JSystemProperties.UI_SERVER_PORT_PROPERTY);
+        String portProp = System.getProperty(DL4JSystemProperties.UI_SERVER_PORT_PROPERTY);
         if(portProp != null && !portProp.isEmpty()){
             try{
                 port = Integer.parseInt(portProp);
@@ -378,6 +378,10 @@ public class VertxUIServer extends AbstractVerticle implements UIServer {
             }
         }
 
+	if (port < 0 || port > 0xFFFF) {
+            throw new IllegalStateException("Valid port range is 0 <= port <= 65535. The given port was " + port);
+        }
+
         uiEventRoutingThread = new Thread(new StatsEventRouterRunnable());
         uiEventRoutingThread.setDaemon(true);
         uiEventRoutingThread.start();