diff --git a/backend/src/config/spec.rs b/backend/src/config/spec.rs
index 31228572e..f8b2d37e3 100644
--- a/backend/src/config/spec.rs
+++ b/backend/src/config/spec.rs
@@ -1334,6 +1334,8 @@ impl DefaultableWith for ValueSpecString {
                     if &now.elapsed() > timeout {
                         return Err(TimeoutError);
                     }
+                } else {
+                    return Ok(Value::String(candidate));
                 }
             }
         } else {