diff --git a/lib/dot/defaults.def b/lib/dot/defaults.def
index ec6c70f..a844cf2 100644
--- a/lib/dot/defaults.def
+++ b/lib/dot/defaults.def
@@ -1,13 +1,12 @@
 {{## def.assignDefault:
   {{? it.compositeRule }}
-    {{? it.opts.strictDefaults }}
-      {{ var $defaultMsg = 'default is ignored for: ' + $passData; }}
-      {{? it.opts.strictDefaults === 'log' }}
-        {{ it.logger.warn($defaultMsg); }}
-      {{??}}
-        {{ throw new Error($defaultMsg); }}
-      {{?}}
-    {{?}}
+    {{
+      if (it.opts.strictDefaults) {
+        var $defaultMsg = 'default is ignored for: ' + $passData;
+        if (it.opts.strictDefaults === 'log') it.logger.warn($defaultMsg);
+        else throw new Error($defaultMsg);
+      }
+    }}
   {{??}}
     if ({{=$passData}} === undefined
       {{? it.opts.useDefaults == 'empty' }}
diff --git a/lib/dot/validate.jst b/lib/dot/validate.jst
index 3c92ef4..f8a1edf 100644
--- a/lib/dot/validate.jst
+++ b/lib/dot/validate.jst
@@ -82,15 +82,13 @@
     delete it.isTop;
 
     it.dataPathArr = [undefined];
+
+    if (it.schema.default !== undefined && it.opts.useDefaults && it.opts.strictDefaults) {
+      var $defaultMsg = 'default is ignored in the schema root';
+      if (it.opts.strictDefaults === 'log') it.logger.warn($defaultMsg);
+      else throw new Error($defaultMsg);
+    }
   }}
-  {{? it.schema.default !== undefined && it.opts.useDefaults && it.opts.strictDefaults }}
-    {{ var $defaultMsg = 'default is ignored in the schema root'; }}
-    {{? it.opts.strictDefaults === 'log' }}
-      {{ it.logger.warn($defaultMsg); }}
-    {{??}}
-      {{ throw new Error($defaultMsg); }}
-    {{?}}
-  {{?}}
 
   var vErrors = null; {{ /* don't edit, used in replace */ }}
   var errors = 0;     {{ /* don't edit, used in replace */ }}