diff --git a/roost_backend/authentication.py b/roost_backend/authentication.py
index 5ca89fc..b5811d8 100644
--- a/roost_backend/authentication.py
+++ b/roost_backend/authentication.py
@@ -41,6 +41,7 @@ def validate_token(cls, token, raise_on_jwt_error=True):
         if claims is None:
             return None, None
 
+        user = None
         if 'identity' in claims:
             user = models.User.objects.filter(**claims['identity']).first()
         return claims, user