diff --git a/src/variables.jl b/src/variables.jl
index 8f37480f3e3..203722e9e00 100644
--- a/src/variables.jl
+++ b/src/variables.jl
@@ -1750,7 +1750,9 @@ function _moi_add_variable(
     return var_ref
 end
 
-function _to_value(::Type{T}, value, msg) where {T}
+_to_value(::Type{T}, value::T, ::String) where {T} = value
+
+function _to_value(::Type{T}, value, msg::String) where {T}
     try
         return convert(T, value)
     catch
@@ -1761,9 +1763,7 @@ function _to_value(::Type{T}, value, msg) where {T}
     end
 end
 
-_to_value(::Type{T}, value::T, ::String) where {T} = value
-
-function _to_value(::Type{T}, value::AbstractJuMPScalar, msg) where {T}
+function _to_value(::Type{T}, value::AbstractJuMPScalar, msg::String) where {T}
     return error(
         "Unable to use `$value::$(typeof(value))` as the $msg of a variable. " *
         "The $msg must be a constant value of type `::$T`. You cannot use " *
@@ -1771,7 +1771,6 @@ function _to_value(::Type{T}, value::AbstractJuMPScalar, msg) where {T}
     )
 end
 
-
 function _moi_constrain_variable(
     moi_backend::MOI.ModelLike,
     index,
diff --git a/test/test_variable.jl b/test/test_variable.jl
index 082a40be935..6f3f50205ae 100644
--- a/test/test_variable.jl
+++ b/test/test_variable.jl
@@ -1587,7 +1587,7 @@ function test_bad_bound_types()
     function err2(value, msg, T)
         return ErrorException(
             "Unable to use `$value::$(typeof(value))` as the $msg of a variable. " *
-           "The $msg must be a constant value of type `::$T`. You cannot use " *
+            "The $msg must be a constant value of type `::$T`. You cannot use " *
             "JuMP variables or expressions.",
         )
     end