diff --git a/core/includes/batch.inc b/core/includes/batch.inc
index beaa8c3..ec78b35 100644
--- a/core/includes/batch.inc
+++ b/core/includes/batch.inc
@@ -228,7 +228,7 @@ function _batch_process() {
       include_once DRUPAL_ROOT . '/' . $current_set['file'];
     }
 
-    $task_message = '';
+    $task_message = $label = '';
     // Assume a single pass operation and set the completion level to 1 by
     // default.
     $finished = 1;