diff --git a/src/vcpkg/base/parse.cpp b/src/vcpkg/base/parse.cpp
index 4d1063cfbeece8..7d6576f4168caa 100644
--- a/src/vcpkg/base/parse.cpp
+++ b/src/vcpkg/base/parse.cpp
@@ -149,7 +149,7 @@ namespace vcpkg::Parse
     {
         std::string out;
         TextRowCol ignore;
-        optional_field(fieldname, {out, ignore});
+        required_field(fieldname, {out, ignore});
         return out;
     }