diff --git a/bitbake/lib/bb/data_smart.py b/bitbake/lib/bb/data_smart.py
index 66cb84564e..a6611c4e94 100644
--- a/bitbake/lib/bb/data_smart.py
+++ b/bitbake/lib/bb/data_smart.py
@@ -692,7 +692,7 @@ class DataSmart(MutableMapping):
                             match = active[a]
                             del active[a]
             if match:
-                value = self.getVar(match)
+                value = self.getVar(match, False)
 
         if local_var is not None and value is None:
             if flag in local_var: