diff --git a/close-old-comments.php b/close-old-comments.php
index 1bc005943f455396ec29f6b0d6d0bf7519e3349f..1f10952b24d01654665ce6cbb4ebef3835c52eaf 100644
--- a/close-old-comments.php
+++ b/close-old-comments.php
@@ -24,6 +24,8 @@ function override_close_comments_days_old($value, $option){
         # return $default_options['close_comments_days_old'];
 
         # or even set the option once and for all
+    } else {
+        return $days_old;
     }
 }
 add_filter( 'option_close_comments_days_old', override_close_comments_days_old, 10, 2);