diff --git a/request-management-api/request_api/models/OperatingTeamEmails.py b/request-management-api/request_api/models/OperatingTeamEmails.py
index adc0cceb9..f52684657 100644
--- a/request-management-api/request_api/models/OperatingTeamEmails.py
+++ b/request-management-api/request_api/models/OperatingTeamEmails.py
@@ -39,6 +39,7 @@ def getalloperatingteamemails(cls):
     @classmethod
     def getoperatingteamemail(cls, operatingteamname):
         try:
+            email = None
             sql = """
                 SELECT email_address FROM public."OperatingTeamEmails" em
                     JOIN public."OperatingTeams" op