diff --git a/bitbake/lib/bb/data_smart.py b/bitbake/lib/bb/data_smart.py
index f100446dcc..cd3853e736 100644
--- a/bitbake/lib/bb/data_smart.py
+++ b/bitbake/lib/bb/data_smart.py
@@ -565,7 +565,7 @@ class DataSmart(MutableMapping):
                 if len(shortvar) == 0:
                     override = None
 
-    def getVar(self, var, expand, noweakdefault=False, parsing=False):
+    def getVar(self, var, expand=True, noweakdefault=False, parsing=False):
         return self.getVarFlag(var, "_content", expand, noweakdefault, parsing)
 
     def renameVar(self, key, newkey, **loginfo):
@@ -662,7 +662,7 @@ class DataSmart(MutableMapping):
                 self.dict["__exportlist"]["_content"] = set()
             self.dict["__exportlist"]["_content"].add(var)
 
-    def getVarFlag(self, var, flag, expand, noweakdefault=False, parsing=False):
+    def getVarFlag(self, var, flag, expand=True, noweakdefault=False, parsing=False):
         local_var = self._findVar(var)
         value = None
         if flag == "_content" and var in self.overridedata and not parsing: