diff --git a/meta/conf/bitbake.conf b/meta/conf/bitbake.conf
index a8bafd294e..c996301a8b 100644
--- a/meta/conf/bitbake.conf
+++ b/meta/conf/bitbake.conf
@@ -845,7 +845,7 @@ COMBINED_FEATURES[vardeps] += "DISTRO_FEATURES MACHINE_FEATURES"
 SERIAL_CONSOLE ??= ""
 SERIAL_CONSOLES ??= "${@d.getVar('SERIAL_CONSOLE').replace(' ', ';')}"
 
-NO_RECOMMENDATIONS ?= ""
+NO_RECOMMENDATIONS ??= ""
 BAD_RECOMMENDATIONS ?= ""
 
 # Make sure MACHINE isn't exported