diff --git a/data/helpers.d/php b/data/helpers.d/php
index 55c24ac57..eaeee23ed 100644
--- a/data/helpers.d/php
+++ b/data/helpers.d/php
@@ -2,9 +2,8 @@
 
 # Declare the actual php version to use.
 # A packager willing to use another version of php can override the variable into its _common.sh.
-if [ -n "${YNH_DEFAULT_PHP_VERSION:-}" ]; then
-	YNH_PHP_VERSION=${YNH_PHP_VERSION:-YNH_DEFAULT_PHP_VERSION}
-fi
+YNH_DEFAULT_PHP_VERSION=${YNH_DEFAULT_PHP_VERSION:-7.0}
+YNH_PHP_VERSION=${YNH_PHP_VERSION:-YNH_DEFAULT_PHP_VERSION}
 
 # Create a dedicated php-fpm config
 #