diff --git a/TOOLS/lua/autocrop.lua b/TOOLS/lua/autocrop.lua
index ea57d15658..eff659e50a 100644
--- a/TOOLS/lua/autocrop.lua
+++ b/TOOLS/lua/autocrop.lua
@@ -164,7 +164,7 @@ function detect_end()
 
     restore_hwdec()
 
-    local meta = {}
+    local meta
 
     -- Verify the existence of metadata.
     if cropdetect_metadata then