diff --git a/r2/r2/lib/merge.py b/r2/r2/lib/merge.py
index dcf354613..2db111e58 100644
--- a/r2/r2/lib/merge.py
+++ b/r2/r2/lib/merge.py
@@ -43,10 +43,10 @@ def make_htmldiff(a, b, adesc, bdesc):
                                   todesc=bdesc)
 
 def threewaymerge(original, a, b):
+    temp_dir = g.diff3_temp_location if g.diff3_temp_location else None
+    data = [a, original, b]
+    files = []
     try:
-        temp_dir = g.diff3_temp_location if g.diff3_temp_location else None
-        data = [a, original, b]
-        files = []
         for d in data:
             f = tempfile.NamedTemporaryFile(dir=temp_dir)
             f.write(d.encode('utf-8'))