diff --git a/flake8/hooks.py b/flake8/hooks.py
index 659e5d4..2d1db8d 100644
--- a/flake8/hooks.py
+++ b/flake8/hooks.py
@@ -213,7 +213,7 @@ from flake8.hooks import git_hook, get_git_param
 #   git config flake8.complexity 10
 COMPLEXITY = get_git_param('FLAKE8_COMPLEXITY', 10)
 STRICT = get_git_param('FLAKE8_STRICT', False)
-IGNORE = get_git_param('FLAKE8_IGNORE')
+IGNORE = get_git_param('FLAKE8_IGNORE', None)
 LAZY = get_git_param('FLAKE8_LAZY', False)
 
 if __name__ == '__main__':