diff --git a/pywbem/_cim_obj.py b/pywbem/_cim_obj.py
index d91a2cb1..5c9a69a5 100644
--- a/pywbem/_cim_obj.py
+++ b/pywbem/_cim_obj.py
@@ -1954,6 +1954,7 @@ class CIMInstanceName(_CIMComparisonMixin):
                 _format("WBEM URI has an invalid format for its keybindings: "
                         "{0!A}", keybindings_str))
 
+        kb_assigns = []
         if m.group(1):
             kb_assigns = [m.group(1)]