diff --git a/src/backend/commands/copy.c b/src/backend/commands/copy.c
index f75e1d700d..df7a4a21c9 100644
--- a/src/backend/commands/copy.c
+++ b/src/backend/commands/copy.c
@@ -392,7 +392,7 @@ defGetCopyHeaderChoice(DefElem *def, bool is_from)
 static CopyOnErrorChoice
 defGetCopyOnErrorChoice(DefElem *def, ParseState *pstate, bool is_from)
 {
-	char	   *sval;
+	char	   *sval = defGetString(def);
 
 	if (!is_from)
 		ereport(ERROR,
@@ -400,16 +400,9 @@ defGetCopyOnErrorChoice(DefElem *def, ParseState *pstate, bool is_from)
 				 errmsg("COPY ON_ERROR cannot be used with COPY TO"),
 				 parser_errposition(pstate, def->location)));
 
-	/*
-	 * If no parameter value given, assume the default value.
-	 */
-	if (def->arg == NULL)
-		return COPY_ON_ERROR_STOP;
-
 	/*
 	 * Allow "stop", or "ignore" values.
 	 */
-	sval = defGetString(def);
 	if (pg_strcasecmp(sval, "stop") == 0)
 		return COPY_ON_ERROR_STOP;
 	if (pg_strcasecmp(sval, "ignore") == 0)