diff --git a/lib/bb/fetch/__init__.py b/lib/bb/fetch/__init__.py
index eb3483a48ae..233eb6dc49e 100644
--- a/lib/bb/fetch/__init__.py
+++ b/lib/bb/fetch/__init__.py
@@ -1904,6 +1904,7 @@ class Fetch(object):
             m = ud.method
             done = False
 
+            lf = None
             try:
                 lf = bb.utils.lockfile(ud.lockfile, shared=True)