diff --git a/src/js/misc/utility.js b/src/js/misc/utility.js
index 6eab36eb..71f02119 100644
--- a/src/js/misc/utility.js
+++ b/src/js/misc/utility.js
@@ -342,7 +342,7 @@ function mg_target_ref(target) {
     return mg_normalize(target);
 
   } else if (target instanceof window.HTMLElement) {
-    target_ref = target.getAttribute('data-mg-uid');
+    var target_ref = target.getAttribute('data-mg-uid');
     if (!target_ref) {
       target_ref = mg_next_id();
       target.setAttribute('data-mg-uid', target_ref);