diff --git a/bin/tests/system/qmin/ans4/ans.py b/bin/tests/system/qmin/ans4/ans.py
index a4cc13c656..f3d00c3514 100755
--- a/bin/tests/system/qmin/ans4/ans.py
+++ b/bin/tests/system/qmin/ans4/ans.py
@@ -58,6 +58,7 @@ def create_response(msg):
     qname = m.question[0].name.to_text()
     lqname = qname.lower()
     labels = lqname.split(".")
+    suffix = ""
 
     # get qtype
     rrtype = m.question[0].rdtype