diff --git a/lib/fs.js b/lib/fs.js
index ef56a02ac39..0bef4227be1 100644
--- a/lib/fs.js
+++ b/lib/fs.js
@@ -468,6 +468,7 @@ fs.watchFile = function (filename) {
 };
 
 fs.unwatchFile = function (filename) {
+  var stat;
   if (statWatchers[filename]) {
     stat = statWatchers[filename];
     stat.stop();