diff --git a/lib/ansible/module_utils/iosxr.py b/lib/ansible/module_utils/iosxr.py
index 3b5ba54b287..3e01d29c3de 100644
--- a/lib/ansible/module_utils/iosxr.py
+++ b/lib/ansible/module_utils/iosxr.py
@@ -139,7 +139,6 @@ def load_config(module, commands, warnings, commit=False, replace=False, comment
             cmd += ' comment {0}'.format(comment)
     else:
         cmd = 'abort'
-        diff = None
 
     rc, out, err = exec_command(module, cmd)
     if rc != 0: