diff --git a/spring-boot/src/main/java/org/springframework/boot/BeanDefinitionLoader.java b/spring-boot/src/main/java/org/springframework/boot/BeanDefinitionLoader.java
index b97234637e..ea85a32e05 100644
--- a/spring-boot/src/main/java/org/springframework/boot/BeanDefinitionLoader.java
+++ b/spring-boot/src/main/java/org/springframework/boot/BeanDefinitionLoader.java
@@ -161,6 +161,9 @@ class BeanDefinitionLoader {
 		try {
 			return load(ClassUtils.forName(resolvedSource, null));
 		}
+		catch (IllegalArgumentException ex) {
+			// swallow exception and continue
+		}
 		catch (ClassNotFoundException ex) {
 			// swallow exception and continue
 		}