diff --git a/www-api/app/Controllers/BaseController.php b/www-api/app/Controllers/BaseController.php
index 48c168a2..a70e1609 100644
--- a/www-api/app/Controllers/BaseController.php
+++ b/www-api/app/Controllers/BaseController.php
@@ -318,7 +318,9 @@ abstract class BaseController extends Controller
     public function procOfferInterest($in) {
         $proc = $in['proc'];
         $in['interest'] = 0;
-        $in["strict_timeline"] =  $in["strict_timeline"] ?? 0;
+       if ( !isset($in["strict_timeline"]) ) {
+            $in["strict_timeline"] =0;
+        }
         switch ($proc) {
             case 'ACCEPT':
                 $in['interest'] = JOB_INTEREST_ACCEPT;