diff --git a/worker/libretime_worker/tasks.py b/worker/libretime_worker/tasks.py
index d7d189cc09..1934c5551e 100644
--- a/worker/libretime_worker/tasks.py
+++ b/worker/libretime_worker/tasks.py
@@ -59,6 +59,7 @@ def podcast_download(
         Status of the podcast download as JSON string.
     """
     result: Dict[str, Any] = {"episodeid": episode_id}
+    tmp_file = None
 
     try:
         # Download podcast episode file