diff --git a/entityreference.module b/entityreference.module
index 6cc1af6..3feaa54 100644
--- a/entityreference.module
+++ b/entityreference.module
@@ -1124,6 +1124,7 @@ function entityreference_field_formatter_info() {
 function entityreference_field_formatter_settings_form($field, $instance, $view_mode, $form, &$form_state) {
   $display = $instance['display'][$view_mode];
   $settings = $display['settings'];
+  $element = array();
   $field_type_settings = entityreference_field_type_settings($field);
 
   if ($display['type'] == 'entityreference_label') {