diff --git a/src/libnmc-setting/nm-meta-setting-desc.c b/src/libnmc-setting/nm-meta-setting-desc.c
index 36e523422a..161cc8d217 100644
--- a/src/libnmc-setting/nm-meta-setting-desc.c
+++ b/src/libnmc-setting/nm-meta-setting-desc.c
@@ -864,7 +864,7 @@ _get_fcn_gobject_impl(const NMMetaPropertyInfo *property_info,
              * signal them differently. */
             cstr = g_value_get_string(&val);
             nm_assert((!!is_default) == (cstr == NULL));
-            RETURN_STR_EMPTYUNSET(get_type, is_default, NULL);
+            RETURN_STR_EMPTYUNSET(get_type, is_default, cstr);
         }
     }