diff --git a/gracedb/middleware/auth.py b/gracedb/middleware/auth.py
index 9e83a85f57cb73a11bc5d3fa8d0896d314041099..58dcd8e6ec0b12eacae6d90317132f3cda16a66b 100644
--- a/gracedb/middleware/auth.py
+++ b/gracedb/middleware/auth.py
@@ -18,6 +18,7 @@ class LigoAuthMiddleware:
 
         ligouser = None
         user = None
+        principal = None
 
         queryResult = []
         if not request.user.is_anonymous():