diff --git a/src/sniffles/sniffles b/src/sniffles/sniffles
index f04bb0b..7eca35b 100755
--- a/src/sniffles/sniffles
+++ b/src/sniffles/sniffles
@@ -187,6 +187,7 @@ def Sniffles2_Main(processes: list[parallel.SnifflesWorker]):
     #
     # Open output files
     #
+    vcf_out = None
     if config.vcf is not None:
 
         vcf_output_info = []