diff --git a/lib/taskana-core/src/main/java/pro/taskana/impl/ClassificationServiceImpl.java b/lib/taskana-core/src/main/java/pro/taskana/impl/ClassificationServiceImpl.java
index 2146b66bd..af0e78ed3 100644
--- a/lib/taskana-core/src/main/java/pro/taskana/impl/ClassificationServiceImpl.java
+++ b/lib/taskana-core/src/main/java/pro/taskana/impl/ClassificationServiceImpl.java
@@ -143,9 +143,9 @@ public class ClassificationServiceImpl implements ClassificationService {
 
     @Override
     public Classification getClassification(String id, String domain) {
+        Classification classification = null;
         try {
             taskanaEngineImpl.openConnection();
-            Classification result = null;
             Classification classification = classificationMapper.findByIdAndDomain(id, domain, CURRENT_CLASSIFICATIONS_VALID_UNTIL);
             if (classification == null) {
                 return classificationMapper.findByIdAndDomain(id, "", CURRENT_CLASSIFICATIONS_VALID_UNTIL);