diff --git a/error.c b/error.c
index b0a2a1283e..aaaa0466a8 100644
--- a/error.c
+++ b/error.c
@@ -1463,7 +1463,7 @@ nometh_err_initialize_options(int argc, VALUE *argv, VALUE self, VALUE options)
     VALUE args = (argc > 2) ? argv[--argc] : Qnil;
     name_err_initialize_options(argc, argv, self, options);
     rb_ivar_set(self, id_args, args);
-    rb_ivar_set(self, id_private_call_p, RTEST(priv) ? Qtrue : Qfalse);
+    rb_ivar_set(self, id_private_call_p, priv);
     return self;
 }