diff --git a/mod/assignment/assignment.js b/mod/assignment/assignment.js
index ac37c1a13b1..db03ffa306b 100644
--- a/mod/assignment/assignment.js
+++ b/mod/assignment/assignment.js
@@ -1,3 +1,5 @@
+var assignment = {};
+
 function setNext(){
     document.getElementById('submitform').mode.value = 'next';
     document.getElementById('submitform').userid.value = assignment.nextid;