diff --git a/lib/jekyll/collection.rb b/lib/jekyll/collection.rb
index ea6a81b6..c7607171 100644
--- a/lib/jekyll/collection.rb
+++ b/lib/jekyll/collection.rb
@@ -186,9 +186,7 @@ module Jekyll
     #
     # Returns the URL template to render collection's documents at.
     def url_template
-      metadata.fetch('permalink') do
-        Utils.add_permalink_suffix("/:collection/:path", site.permalink_style)
-      end
+      metadata['permalink'] ||= Utils.add_permalink_suffix("/:collection/:path", site.permalink_style)
     end
 
     # Extract options for this collection from the site configuration.