diff --git a/lib/internal/crypto/hash.js b/lib/internal/crypto/hash.js
index c8e9af003086c8..57fcb63518d52d 100644
--- a/lib/internal/crypto/hash.js
+++ b/lib/internal/crypto/hash.js
@@ -14,7 +14,6 @@ const {
 } = internalBinding('crypto');
 
 const {
-  getDefaultEncoding,
   getStringOption,
   jobPromise,
   normalizeHashName,
@@ -95,8 +94,6 @@ Hash.prototype._flush = function _flush(callback) {
 };
 
 Hash.prototype.update = function update(data, encoding) {
-  encoding = encoding || getDefaultEncoding();
-
   const state = this[kState];
   if (state[kFinalized])
     throw new ERR_CRYPTO_HASH_FINALIZED();
@@ -118,10 +115,9 @@ Hash.prototype.digest = function digest(outputEncoding) {
   const state = this[kState];
   if (state[kFinalized])
     throw new ERR_CRYPTO_HASH_FINALIZED();
-  outputEncoding = outputEncoding || getDefaultEncoding();
 
-  // Explicit conversion for backward compatibility.
-  const ret = this[kHandle].digest(`${outputEncoding}`);
+  // Explicit conversion of truthy values for backward compatibility.
+  const ret = this[kHandle].digest(outputEncoding && `${outputEncoding}`);
   state[kFinalized] = true;
   return ret;
 };
@@ -147,15 +143,16 @@ Hmac.prototype.update = Hash.prototype.update;
 
 Hmac.prototype.digest = function digest(outputEncoding) {
   const state = this[kState];
-  outputEncoding = outputEncoding || getDefaultEncoding();
 
   if (state[kFinalized]) {
     const buf = Buffer.from('');
-    return outputEncoding === 'buffer' ? buf : buf.toString(outputEncoding);
+    if (outputEncoding && outputEncoding !== 'buffer')
+      return buf.toString(outputEncoding);
+    return buf;
   }
 
-  // Explicit conversion for backward compatibility.
-  const ret = this[kHandle].digest(`${outputEncoding}`);
+  // Explicit conversion of truthy values for backward compatibility.
+  const ret = this[kHandle].digest(outputEncoding && `${outputEncoding}`);
   state[kFinalized] = true;
   return ret;
 };