diff --git a/src/main/java/com/sk89q/worldguard/protection/FlagValueCalculator.java b/src/main/java/com/sk89q/worldguard/protection/FlagValueCalculator.java
index 2514f031..7f3bd953 100644
--- a/src/main/java/com/sk89q/worldguard/protection/FlagValueCalculator.java
+++ b/src/main/java/com/sk89q/worldguard/protection/FlagValueCalculator.java
@@ -420,7 +420,8 @@ public <V> V getEffectiveFlag(final ProtectedRegion region, Flag<V> flag, @Nulla
             } else if (flag == DefaultFlag.BUILD) {
                 // Legacy behavior -> we can't let people change BUILD on
                 // the global region
-                return null;
+                State value = region.getFlag(DefaultFlag.BUILD);
+                return value != State.ALLOW ? (V) value : null;
             }
         }
 
diff --git a/src/test/java/com/sk89q/worldguard/protection/FlagValueCalculatorTest.java b/src/test/java/com/sk89q/worldguard/protection/FlagValueCalculatorTest.java
index 9a116086..309901de 100644
--- a/src/test/java/com/sk89q/worldguard/protection/FlagValueCalculatorTest.java
+++ b/src/test/java/com/sk89q/worldguard/protection/FlagValueCalculatorTest.java
@@ -1979,7 +1979,7 @@ public void testGetEffectiveFlagGlobalRegionBuildDeny() throws Exception {
 
         FlagValueCalculator result = mock.getFlagCalculator();
         // Cannot let users override BUILD on GLOBAL
-        assertThat(result.getEffectiveFlag(global, DefaultFlag.BUILD, null), equalTo(null));
+        assertThat(result.getEffectiveFlag(global, DefaultFlag.BUILD, null), equalTo(State.DENY));
     }
 
     @Test