--- a/meson.build
+++ b/meson.build
@@ -373,7 +373,7 @@
   # We don't know the type of prop (bool, string) but need to differentiate
   # between a set value (bool) or the fallback value (string), so convert to
   # a string and check the string value.
-  prop_str = '@0@'.format(prop)
+  prop_str = 'false'
   if prop_str in ['true', 'false']
     ipc_rmid_deferred_release = (prop_str == 'true')
     message('IPC_RMID_DEFERRED_RELEASE:', ipc_rmid_deferred_release)