diff --git a/yocto-poky/meta/lib/oe/data.py b/yocto-poky/meta/lib/oe/data.py
index 4cc0e02..e495721 100644
--- a/yocto-poky/meta/lib/oe/data.py
+++ b/yocto-poky/meta/lib/oe/data.py
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@
 def typed_value(key, d):
     """Construct a value for the specified metadata variable, using its flags
     to determine the type and parameters for construction."""
-    var_type = d.getVarFlag(key, 'type')
+    var_type = d.getVarFlag(key, 'type', True)
     flags = d.getVarFlags(key)
     if flags is not None:
         flags = dict((flag, d.expand(value))