diff --git a/data/helpers.d/php b/data/helpers.d/php
index 56d35cee8..c099fd7a2 100644
--- a/data/helpers.d/php
+++ b/data/helpers.d/php
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@
 
 # Declare the actual php version to use.
 # A packager willing to use another version of php can override the variable into its _common.sh.
-YNH_PHP_VERSION=${YNH_PHP_VERSION:-$YNH_DEFAULT_PHP_VERSION}
+YNH_PHP_VERSION=${YNH_PHP_VERSION:-${YNH_DEFAULT_PHP_VERSION:-7.0}}
 
 # Create a dedicated php-fpm config
 #