diff --git a/Python/pythonrun.c b/Python/pythonrun.c
index 5f305aa00e0..f87c53fb28f 100644
--- a/Python/pythonrun.c
+++ b/Python/pythonrun.c
@@ -89,7 +89,7 @@ int
 PyRun_AnyFileExFlags(FILE *fp, const char *filename, int closeit,
                      PyCompilerFlags *flags)
 {
-    PyObject *filename_obj;
+    PyObject *filename_obj = NULL;
     if (filename != NULL) {
         filename_obj = PyUnicode_DecodeFSDefault(filename);
         if (filename_obj == NULL) {
@@ -97,9 +97,6 @@ PyRun_AnyFileExFlags(FILE *fp, const char *filename, int closeit,
             return -1;
         }
     }
-    else {
-        filename_obj = NULL;
-    }
     int res = _PyRun_AnyFileObject(fp, filename_obj, closeit, flags);
     Py_XDECREF(filename_obj);
     return res;