diff --git a/lib/types/urlencoded.js b/lib/types/urlencoded.js
index 687745f8..0ce42a0d 100644
--- a/lib/types/urlencoded.js
+++ b/lib/types/urlencoded.js
@@ -188,13 +188,13 @@ function createQueryParser (options, extended) {
  * Get the charset of a request.
  *
  * @param {object} req
+ * @returns {(string|undefined)}
  * @api private
  */
-
 function getCharset (req) {
   try {
-    return (contentType.parse(req).parameters.charset || '').toLowerCase()
-  } catch (e) {
+    return contentType.parse(req).parameters.charset?.toLowerCase()
+  } catch {
     return undefined
   }
 }