diff --git a/torch_xla/stablehlo.py b/torch_xla/stablehlo.py
index 4bf7120ef3c..f825b7465e3 100644
--- a/torch_xla/stablehlo.py
+++ b/torch_xla/stablehlo.py
@@ -347,10 +347,7 @@ def _exported_program_to_stablehlo_bundle(exported_model,
   if options.inline_all_constant:
     # Inline all constants.
     torch_xla._XLAC._set_xla_all_numbers_special_scalars(True)
-  if "XLA_HLO_DEBUG" in os.environ:
-    xla_hlo_debug_env = os.environ["XLA_HLO_DEBUG"]
-  else:
-    xla_hlo_debug_env = "0"
+  xla_hlo_debug_env = os.environ.get("XLA_HLO_DEBUG", "0") 
   if options.export_node_metadata:
     gm_serializer = GraphModuleSerializer(exported_model.graph_signature,
                                           exported_model.module_call_graph)