diff --git a/lamindb/_can_curate.py b/lamindb/_can_curate.py
index 3e6b191eb..744e8ee8f 100644
--- a/lamindb/_can_curate.py
+++ b/lamindb/_can_curate.py
@@ -383,6 +383,8 @@ def _standardize(
         organism = (
             organism_record.name if organism_record is not None else organism_record
         )
+    else:
+        organism = None
 
     # only perform synonym mapping if field is the name field
     if hasattr(registry, "_name_field") and field != registry._name_field: