diff --git a/src/bin/stats/stats.py.in b/src/bin/stats/stats.py.in
index 2711f2d38b..9ace6c83e1 100755
--- a/src/bin/stats/stats.py.in
+++ b/src/bin/stats/stats.py.in
@@ -261,6 +261,7 @@ class Stats:
             # TODO: Is it OK to just pass? As part of refactoring, preserving
             # the original behaviour.
             value = None
+        modules = []
         if type(value) is list:
             # NOTE: For example, the "show_processes" command
             # of Init is assumed to return the response in this