diff --git a/src/evalvars.c b/src/evalvars.c
index 0ee4b08..4690d1a 100644
--- a/src/evalvars.c
+++ b/src/evalvars.c
@@ -4014,7 +4014,7 @@
 	strval = tv_get_string_buf_chk(varp, nbuf);
     }
     if (!error && strval != NULL)
-	set_option_value(varname, numval, strval, OPT_LOCAL);
+	set_option_value_give_err(varname, numval, strval, OPT_LOCAL);
 }
 
 /*