diff --git a/bash_it.sh b/bash_it.sh
index cb504202..12893990 100755
--- a/bash_it.sh
+++ b/bash_it.sh
@@ -144,7 +144,7 @@ if [ -e "$HOME/.jekyllconfig" ]; then
 fi
 
 # BASH_IT_RELOAD_LEGACY is set.
-if ! command -v reload &> /dev/null && [ -n "$BASH_IT_RELOAD_LEGACY" ]; then
+if ! command -v reload &> /dev/null && [ -n "${BASH_IT_RELOAD_LEGACY:-}" ]; then
 	case $OSTYPE in
 		darwin*)
 			alias reload='source ~/.bash_profile'