diff --git a/compiler/cli/cli-common/src/org/jetbrains/kotlin/cli/common/arguments/JavaTypeEnhancementStateParser.kt b/compiler/cli/cli-common/src/org/jetbrains/kotlin/cli/common/arguments/JavaTypeEnhancementStateParser.kt
index 4b161e351f7..8291b93b956 100644
--- a/compiler/cli/cli-common/src/org/jetbrains/kotlin/cli/common/arguments/JavaTypeEnhancementStateParser.kt
+++ b/compiler/cli/cli-common/src/org/jetbrains/kotlin/cli/common/arguments/JavaTypeEnhancementStateParser.kt
@@ -169,7 +169,8 @@ class JavaTypeEnhancementStateParser(
         return Jsr305Settings(
             globalLevel = globalLevel,
             migrationLevel = migration ?: getDefaultMigrationJsr305ReportLevelForGivenGlobal(globalLevel),
-            userDefinedLevelForSpecificAnnotation = defaultSettings.userDefinedLevelForSpecificAnnotation
+            userDefinedLevelForSpecificAnnotation = userDefined.takeIf { it.isNotEmpty() }
+                ?: defaultSettings.userDefinedLevelForSpecificAnnotation
         )
     }