--- a/configmix/config.py	Fri Dec 17 16:17:17 2021 +0100
+++ b/configmix/config.py	Fri Dec 17 16:28:09 2021 +0100
@@ -571,13 +571,12 @@
         else:
             return (name, [])
 
-    def _lookupvar(self, *path, **kwds):
+    def _lookupvar(self, *path):
         """Lookup a variable within a hierarchy.
 
-        If no default is given an unexisting `path` raises a `KeyError`
-        else `default` is returned.
+        :raise KeyError: An unexisting `path` raises a `KeyError`
+
         """
-        default = kwds.pop("default", _MARKER)
         if not path:
             return self
         try:
@@ -589,12 +588,6 @@
             raise KeyError(
                 "Configuration variable %r not found"
                 "(missing intermediate keys?)" % (path,))
-        except KeyError:
-            if default is _MARKER:
-                raise KeyError(
-                    "Configuration variable %r not found" % (path,))
-            else:
-                return default
         return v
 
     def _lookupref(self, key, default=_MARKER):