diff --git a/substratevm/src/com.oracle.svm.core/src/com/oracle/svm/core/util/EnvVariableUtils.java b/substratevm/src/com.oracle.svm.core/src/com/oracle/svm/core/util/EnvVariableUtils.java
index 43a5884f6eed..f4faed834355 100644
--- a/substratevm/src/com.oracle.svm.core/src/com/oracle/svm/core/util/EnvVariableUtils.java
+++ b/substratevm/src/com.oracle.svm.core/src/com/oracle/svm/core/util/EnvVariableUtils.java
@@ -82,8 +82,7 @@ public boolean isKeyRequired() {
         }
 
         public static boolean isKeyRequired(String key) {
-            mapKey(key);
-            return isKeyRequiredCondition(key);
+            return isKeyRequiredCondition(mapKey(key));
         }
 
         private static String mapKey(String key) {