diff --git a/commands/pm/pm.drush.inc b/commands/pm/pm.drush.inc
index d9eaa02..aad0e7d 100644
--- a/commands/pm/pm.drush.inc
+++ b/commands/pm/pm.drush.inc
@@ -840,6 +840,7 @@ function drush_pm_download() {
           drush_set_error('DRUSH_PM_COULD_NOT_LOAD_UPDATE_FILE', $error[0]);
         }
         else {
+          $releases = null;
           // Try to get the specified release.
           if ($package['version']) {
             $releases = $xml->xpath("/project/releases/release[status='published'][version='" . $package['version'] . "']");