diff --git a/agent/consul/state/acl.go b/agent/consul/state/acl.go
index e9dc970cf..480de1757 100644
--- a/agent/consul/state/acl.go
+++ b/agent/consul/state/acl.go
@@ -641,14 +641,13 @@ func (s *Store) aclPolicySetTxn(tx *memdb.Txn, idx uint64, policy *structs.ACLPo
 		return ErrMissingACLPolicyName
 	}
 
-	var policyMatch *structs.ACLPolicy
 	existing, err := tx.First("acl-policies", "id", policy.ID)
 	if err != nil {
 		return fmt.Errorf("failed acl policy lookup: %v", err)
 	}
 
 	if existing != nil {
-		policyMatch = existing.(*structs.ACLPolicy)
+		policyMatch := existing.(*structs.ACLPolicy)
 
 		if policy.ID == structs.ACLPolicyGlobalManagementID {
 			// Only the name and description are modifiable