diff --git a/lib/WebGUI/Asset/Wobject/Survey/Test.pm b/lib/WebGUI/Asset/Wobject/Survey/Test.pm
index eeba78ccb..c6061478a 100644
--- a/lib/WebGUI/Asset/Wobject/Survey/Test.pm
+++ b/lib/WebGUI/Asset/Wobject/Survey/Test.pm
@@ -159,7 +159,8 @@ sub run {
         # N.B. we pass setup to individual test rather than running it for test, because 
         # some test subs reset rJSON between sub-tests
         
-        if (my $args = $item->{test} ) {
+        my $args;
+        if ($args = $item->{test} ) {
             push @tap, $self->_test( { 
                 responseJSON => $rJSON, 
                 surveyOrder =>  $surveyOrder,
@@ -170,7 +171,7 @@ sub run {
                 setup => $setup,
             } );
         } 
-        elsif (my $args = $item->{test_mc} ) {
+        elsif ($args = $item->{test_mc} ) {
             push @tap, $self->_test_mc( { 
                 responseJSON => $rJSON, 
                 surveyOrder =>  $surveyOrder,
@@ -181,7 +182,7 @@ sub run {
                 setup => $setup,
             } );
         } 
-        elsif (my $args = $item->{sequence} ) {
+        elsif ($args = $item->{sequence} ) {
             push @tap, $self->_sequence( { 
                 responseJSON => $rJSON, 
                 surveyOrder =>  $surveyOrder,
@@ -191,7 +192,7 @@ sub run {
                 name => $name,
             } );
         } 
-        elsif (my $args = $item->{defined} ) {
+        elsif ($args = $item->{defined} ) {
             push @tap, $self->_defined( { 
                 responseJSON => $rJSON, 
                 surveyOrder =>  $surveyOrder,