diff --git a/controllers/machine_controller.go b/controllers/machine_controller.go
index 577d0163776c..af0c11c97992 100644
--- a/controllers/machine_controller.go
+++ b/controllers/machine_controller.go
@@ -376,13 +376,10 @@ func (r *MachineReconciler) isDeleteNodeAllowed(ctx context.Context, cluster *cl
 		return errNilNodeRef
 	}
 
-	var controlPlane *unstructured.Unstructured
-
 	// controlPlaneRef is an optional field in the Cluster so skip the external
 	// managed control plane check if it is nil
 	if cluster.Spec.ControlPlaneRef != nil {
-		var err error
-		controlPlane, err = external.Get(ctx, r.Client, cluster.Spec.ControlPlaneRef, cluster.Spec.ControlPlaneRef.Namespace)
+		controlPlane, err := external.Get(ctx, r.Client, cluster.Spec.ControlPlaneRef, cluster.Spec.ControlPlaneRef.Namespace)
 		if err != nil {
 			return err
 		}