diff --git a/zsh-vi-mode.zsh b/zsh-vi-mode.zsh
index 809efe6..2a78533 100644
--- a/zsh-vi-mode.zsh
+++ b/zsh-vi-mode.zsh
@@ -3602,7 +3602,7 @@ function zvm_init() {
   zvm_bindkey viins '^?' backward-delete-char
 
   # Initialize ZVM_MODE value
-  case $ZVM_LINE_INIT_MODE in
+  case ${ZVM_LINE_INIT_MODE:-$ZVM_MODE_INSERT} in
     $ZVM_MODE_INSERT) ZVM_MODE=$ZVM_MODE_INSERT;;
     *) ZVM_MODE=$ZVM_MODE_NORMAL;;
   esac