diff --git a/Library/Homebrew/formula_lock.rb b/Library/Homebrew/formula_lock.rb
index 183c2dd9ce..3b3807fd85 100644
--- a/Library/Homebrew/formula_lock.rb
+++ b/Library/Homebrew/formula_lock.rb
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@ class FormulaLock
   def initialize(name)
     @name = name
     @path = LOCKDIR.join("#{@name}.brewing")
+    @lockfile = nil
   end
 
   def lock