diff --git a/gracedb/api.py b/gracedb/api.py
index 1a070cfed562bc81e94707ecb64d65a694fcd97f..1717448c3069979c799553e9c51e101b91ae24ab 100644
--- a/gracedb/api.py
+++ b/gracedb/api.py
@@ -856,6 +856,7 @@ class EventSlot(APIView):
 
         # UGLY hack to deal with /private vs /general dirs
         general = False
+        tmpFilename = filename
         if filename.startswith("general/"):
             tmpFilename = filename[len("general/"):]
             general = True