diff --git a/admin/itemtypes.pl b/admin/itemtypes.pl
index cfccde48da..e52bd11ee5 100755
--- a/admin/itemtypes.pl
+++ b/admin/itemtypes.pl
@@ -99,7 +99,7 @@ if ( $op eq 'add_form' ) {
     my $rentalcharge_hourly_calendar = $input->param('rentalcharge_hourly_calendar') // 0;
     my $automatic_checkin            = $input->param('automatic_checkin')            // 0;
     my $bookable                     = $input->param('bookable')                     // 0;
-    my $checkprevcheckout            = $input->param('checkprevcheckout');
+    my $checkprevcheckout            = $input->param('checkprevcheckout')            // 'inherit';
 
     if ( $itemtype and $is_a_modif ) {    # it's a modification
         $itemtype->description($description);
@@ -121,10 +121,7 @@ if ( $op eq 'add_form' ) {
         $itemtype->rentalcharge_hourly_calendar($rentalcharge_hourly_calendar);
         $itemtype->automatic_checkin($automatic_checkin);
         $itemtype->bookable($bookable);
-
-        if ( defined $checkprevcheckout ) {
-            $itemtype->checkprevcheckout($checkprevcheckout);
-        }
+        $itemtype->checkprevcheckout($checkprevcheckout);
 
         eval {
             $itemtype->store;
diff --git a/api/v1/swagger/definitions/item_type.yaml b/api/v1/swagger/definitions/item_type.yaml
index 354aa68db7..44801329a9 100644
--- a/api/v1/swagger/definitions/item_type.yaml
+++ b/api/v1/swagger/definitions/item_type.yaml
@@ -99,7 +99,7 @@ properties:
       - yes
       - no
       - inherit
-    description: Produce a warning for this item type if this item has previously been checked out to this patron if ''yes'', not if ''no'', defer to syspref setting if ''inherit''.'
+    description: Produce a warning for this item type if this item has previously been checked out to this patron if ''yes'', not if ''no'', defer to patron setting if ''inherit''
 
 additionalProperties: false
 required: