diff --git a/phpBB/develop/fill.php b/phpBB/develop/fill.php
index a4cd90bfca..5c3552265d 100644
--- a/phpBB/develop/fill.php
+++ b/phpBB/develop/fill.php
@@ -39,8 +39,8 @@ $posts_per_topic = 500;
 
 
 // general vars
-$mode = (isset($_REQUEST['mode'])) ? $_REQUEST['mode'] : 'generate';
-$start = (isset($_REQUEST['start'])) ? intval($_REQUEST['start']) : 0;
+$mode = request_var('mode', 'generate');
+$start = request_var('start', 0);
 
 switch ($mode)
 {