diff --git a/src/test/regress/citus_tests/run_test.py b/src/test/regress/citus_tests/run_test.py
index d1f6f46be..e7c466c21 100755
--- a/src/test/regress/citus_tests/run_test.py
+++ b/src/test/regress/citus_tests/run_test.py
@@ -33,6 +33,8 @@ if not test_file_extension in '.spec.sql':
     )
     sys.exit(1)
 
+test_schedule = ''
+
 # find related schedule
 for schedule_file_path in sorted(glob(os.path.join(regress_dir, "*_schedule"))):
         for schedule_line in open(schedule_file_path, 'r'):