diff --git a/moduleroot/spec/spec_helper.rb.erb b/moduleroot/spec/spec_helper.rb.erb
index 2acf2f71f92d85b6e5b8bee7d7fa1add5af80654..af4f837872592ca0c5de391e8b099c9a02826097 100644
--- a/moduleroot/spec/spec_helper.rb.erb
+++ b/moduleroot/spec/spec_helper.rb.erb
@@ -54,9 +54,7 @@ RSpec.configure do |c|
     # by default Puppet runs at warning level
     Puppet.settings[:strict] = <%= @configs['strict_level'] %>
     <%- end -%>
-    <%- if @configs['strict_variables'] -%>
     Puppet.settings[:strict_variables] = <%= @configs['strict_variables'] %>
-    <%- end -%>
   end
   c.filter_run_excluding(bolt: true) unless ENV['GEM_BOLT']
   c.after(:suite) do