diff --git a/src/compiler/parser.ts b/src/compiler/parser.ts
index eaa8bbef47237..7545cf5c908d3 100644
--- a/src/compiler/parser.ts
+++ b/src/compiler/parser.ts
@@ -10511,7 +10511,7 @@ export function processPragmasIntoFields(context: PragmaContext, reportDiagnosti
                 const libReferenceDirectives = context.libReferenceDirectives;
                 forEach(toArray(entryOrList) as PragmaPseudoMap["reference"][], arg => {
                     const { types, lib, path, ["resolution-mode"]: res } = arg.arguments;
-                    if (arg.arguments["no-default-lib"]) {
+                    if (arg.arguments["no-default-lib"] === "true") {
                         context.hasNoDefaultLib = true;
                     }
                     else if (types) {