diff --git a/cloudbender/pulumi.py b/cloudbender/pulumi.py
index d584fbc..8a89129 100644
--- a/cloudbender/pulumi.py
+++ b/cloudbender/pulumi.py
@@ -52,6 +52,7 @@ def resolve_outputs(outputs):
 def pulumi_ws(func):
     @wraps(func)
     def decorated(self, *args, **kwargs):
+        cwd = None
         # setup temp workspace
         if self.mode == "pulumi":
             self.work_dir = tempfile.mkdtemp(