diff --git a/lib/WeBWorK/ContentGenerator/Instructor/ProblemGrader.pm b/lib/WeBWorK/ContentGenerator/Instructor/ProblemGrader.pm
index 97b2d82f2d..7fba50364b 100644
--- a/lib/WeBWorK/ContentGenerator/Instructor/ProblemGrader.pm
+++ b/lib/WeBWorK/ContentGenerator/Instructor/ProblemGrader.pm
@@ -129,6 +129,7 @@ sub initialize {
 		#if the instructor added a comment we should save that to the latest answer
 		if ($r->param("$userID.comment")) {
 
+		    my $comment = $r->param("$userID.comment");
 		    my $userPastAnswerID = $db->latestProblemPastAnswer($courseName, $userID, $setID, $problemID); 
 		    
 		    if ($userPastAnswerID) {