diff --git a/luaunit.lua b/luaunit.lua
index 4741478b..5bd8e55e 100755
--- a/luaunit.lua
+++ b/luaunit.lua
@@ -3409,7 +3409,7 @@ end
     end
 
     function M.LuaUnit:runSuite( ... )
-        testNames = self:initFromArguments(...)
+        local testNames = self:initFromArguments(...)
         self:registerSuite()
         self:internalRunSuiteByNames( testNames or M.LuaUnit.collectTests() )
         self:unregisterSuite()
@@ -3426,7 +3426,7 @@ end
         return the number of failures and errors, 0 meaning success
         ]]
         -- parse the command-line arguments
-        testNames = self:initFromArguments( commandLineArguments )
+        local testNames = self:initFromArguments( commandLineArguments )
         self:registerSuite()
         self:internalRunSuiteByInstances( listOfNameAndInst )
         self:unregisterSuite()