diff --git a/ugly_hacks/santiago/santiago.py b/ugly_hacks/santiago/santiago.py
index 56c6e0f38..d7669de68 100644
--- a/ugly_hacks/santiago/santiago.py
+++ b/ugly_hacks/santiago/santiago.py
@@ -565,6 +565,8 @@ class Santiago(object):
             debug_log("bad key {0}".format(key))
             return
 
+        message = ""
+        
         try:
             data = self.shelf[key]
         except KeyError as e: