diff --git a/homeassistant/components/modbus/__init__.py b/homeassistant/components/modbus/__init__.py
index 141f2b0cca6..89a50862b6c 100644
--- a/homeassistant/components/modbus/__init__.py
+++ b/homeassistant/components/modbus/__init__.py
@@ -157,7 +157,7 @@ BASE_COMPONENT_SCHEMA = vol.Schema(
         vol.Optional(
             CONF_SCAN_INTERVAL, default=DEFAULT_SCAN_INTERVAL
         ): cv.positive_int,
-        vol.Optional(CONF_LAZY_ERROR, default=0): cv.positive_int,
+        vol.Optional(CONF_LAZY_ERROR): cv.positive_int,
         vol.Optional(CONF_UNIQUE_ID): cv.string,
     }
 )