diff --git a/services_raw/services_raw.inc b/services_raw/services_raw.inc
index 835b240..dfab530 100644
--- a/services_raw/services_raw.inc
+++ b/services_raw/services_raw.inc
@@ -490,9 +490,9 @@ function _services_raw_node_update($nid, $node) {
 
   // Assign username to the node from $user created at auth step.
   if (isset($node['name']) && !isset($node['uid'])) {
-    $user_loaded = user_load_by_name($node['name']);
-    if (!empty($user)) {
-      $node['uid'] = $user_loaded->uid;
+    $account = user_load_by_name($node['name']);
+    if (!empty($account)) {
+      $node['uid'] = $account->uid;
     }
     else {
       unset($node['name']);
@@ -553,9 +553,9 @@ function _services_raw_node_create($node) {
 
   // Assign username to the node from $user created at auth step.
   if (isset($node['name']) && !isset($node['uid'])) {
-    $user_loaded = user_load_by_name($node['name']);
-    if (!empty($user)) {
-      $node['uid'] = $user_loaded->uid;
+    $account = user_load_by_name($node['name']);
+    if (!empty($account)) {
+      $node['uid'] = $account->uid;
     }
     else {
       unset($node['name']);