diff --git a/lib/inspec/control_eval_context.rb b/lib/inspec/control_eval_context.rb
index 58c408fb6..fd38d7d4f 100644
--- a/lib/inspec/control_eval_context.rb
+++ b/lib/inspec/control_eval_context.rb
@@ -194,6 +194,7 @@ module Inspec
 
     # Check if the given control exist in the --controls option
     def control_exist_in_controls_list?(id)
+      id_exist_in_list = false
       if profile_config_exist?
         id_exist_in_list = @conf["profile"].include_controls_list.any? do |inclusion|
           # Try to see if the inclusion is a regex, and if it matches