diff --git a/src/thingdef/thingdef_parse.cpp b/src/thingdef/thingdef_parse.cpp
index bf929128b3..f5359a7d85 100644
--- a/src/thingdef/thingdef_parse.cpp
+++ b/src/thingdef/thingdef_parse.cpp
@@ -533,17 +533,12 @@ static void ParseUserVariable (FScanner &sc, PSymbolTable *symt, PClassActor *cl
 
 	// Read the type and make sure it's acceptable.
 	sc.MustGetAnyToken();
-	switch (sc.TokenType)
+	if (sc.TokenType != TK_Int && sc.TokenType != TK_Float)
 	{
-	case TK_Int:	type = TypeSInt32;		break;
-	case TK_Float:	type = TypeFloat64;		break;
-	case TK_String:	type = TypeString;		break;
-	default:
-		type = TypeError;
-		sc.ScriptMessage("User variables must be of type 'int' or 'float' or 'string'");
+		sc.ScriptMessage("User variables must be of type 'int' or 'float'");
 		FScriptPosition::ErrorCounter++;
-		break;
 	}
+	type = sc.TokenType == TK_Int ? (PType *)TypeSInt32 : (PType *)TypeFloat64;
 
 	sc.MustGetToken(TK_Identifier);
 	// For now, restrict user variables to those that begin with "user_" to guarantee