diff --git a/helper/geojsonify_place_details.js b/helper/geojsonify_place_details.js
index bbe48d2c..26059a1b 100644
--- a/helper/geojsonify_place_details.js
+++ b/helper/geojsonify_place_details.js
@@ -66,8 +66,8 @@ function copyProperties( params, source, dst ) {
       return;
     }
 
-    var value = null;
     if ( source.hasOwnProperty( prop.name ) ) {
+      var value = null;
 
       switch (_.defaultTo(prop.type, 'default')) {
         case 'string':