diff --git a/lisp/use-package/use-package.el b/lisp/use-package/use-package.el
index 02a358c7145..74f1f309436 100644
--- a/lisp/use-package/use-package.el
+++ b/lisp/use-package/use-package.el
@@ -778,7 +778,8 @@ If the package is installed, its entry is removed from
 
 (defsubst use-package-normalize-value (label arg)
   "Normalize a value."
-  (cond ((symbolp arg)
+  (cond ((null arg) nil)
+        ((symbolp arg)
          `(symbol-value ',arg))
         ((functionp arg)
          `(funcall #',arg))