diff --git a/ir.h b/ir.h
index 3ef37083697..328cd4e4ff5 100644
--- a/ir.h
+++ b/ir.h
@@ -458,15 +458,12 @@ public:
 
    bool is_lvalue()
    {
-      ir_variable *as_var;
-
       if (var == NULL)
-	 return NULL;
-
-      as_var = var->as_variable();
+	 return false;
 
+      ir_variable *const as_var = var->as_variable();
       if (as_var == NULL)
-	 return NULL;
+	 return false;
 
       return !as_var->read_only;
    }