diff --git a/sqlite3_load_extension.go b/sqlite3_load_extension.go
index e6c50f28..f2418196 100644
--- a/sqlite3_load_extension.go
+++ b/sqlite3_load_extension.go
@@ -68,7 +68,7 @@ func (c *SQLiteConn) loadExtension(lib string, entry *string) error {
 
 	var centry *C.char
 	if entry != nil {
-		centry := C.CString(*entry)
+		centry = C.CString(*entry)
 		defer C.free(unsafe.Pointer(centry))
 	}