diff --git a/usr.bin/make/var.c b/usr.bin/make/var.c
index f219831b68eb..0b886502bb5d 100644
--- a/usr.bin/make/var.c
+++ b/usr.bin/make/var.c
@@ -2281,7 +2281,7 @@ Var_Parse (str, ctxt, err, lengthPtr, freePtr)
 	    str[*lengthPtr] = '\0';
 	    *freePtr = TRUE;
 	} else {
-	    str = var_Error;
+	    str = err ? var_Error : varNoError;
 	}
     }
     return (str);