diff --git a/scripts/rt-outreachy-payment-next.plx b/scripts/rt-outreachy-payment-next.plx
index a911d13..607880c 100755
--- a/scripts/rt-outreachy-payment-next.plx
+++ b/scripts/rt-outreachy-payment-next.plx
@@ -285,7 +285,7 @@ while (my $file = readdir $dh) {
       "\"$completedInternshipField\" which indicates this payment round is in process.\n";
     next;
   }
-  my $expectVal = 'payment-' . $prevPayNum . "-approved";
+  $expectVal = 'payment-' . $prevPayNum . "-approved";
   if ($completedInternshipField ne $expectVal) {
     print STDERR "\"$file\": \"$ticket\": Skipped: completed-internship field was ",
       "\"$completedInternshipField\" instead of \"$expectVal\".\n";