diff --git a/lib/OpenLayers/Renderer/SVG.js b/lib/OpenLayers/Renderer/SVG.js
index f35c4b7236..42a72e855b 100644
--- a/lib/OpenLayers/Renderer/SVG.js
+++ b/lib/OpenLayers/Renderer/SVG.js
@@ -661,7 +661,7 @@ OpenLayers.Renderer.SVG = OpenLayers.Class(OpenLayers.Renderer.Elements, {
         var y = (location.y / resolution - this.top);
 
         var suffix = (drawOutline)?this.LABEL_OUTLINE_SUFFIX:this.LABEL_ID_SUFFIX;
-            label = this.nodeFactory(featureId + suffix, "text");
+        var label = this.nodeFactory(featureId + suffix, "text");
 
         label.setAttributeNS(null, "x", x);
         label.setAttributeNS(null, "y", -y);