diff --git a/hblink.py b/hblink.py
index 00530d4..9d50213 100755
--- a/hblink.py
+++ b/hblink.py
@@ -214,6 +214,8 @@ class OPENBRIDGE(DatagramProtocol):
         # Keep This Line Commented Unless HEAVILY Debugging!
         #logger.debug('(%s) RX packet from %s -- %s', self._system, _sockaddr, ahex(_packet))
 
+        _hops = None
+        
         if _packet[:3] == DMR:    # DMRData -- encapsulated DMR data frame
             if _packet[:4] == DMRD:
                 if self._config['VER'] > 1: