diff --git a/app/__init__.py b/app/__init__.py
index d79cb6bde..e30655832 100644
--- a/app/__init__.py
+++ b/app/__init__.py
@@ -114,6 +114,7 @@ def create_app(application):
     performance_platform_client.init_app(application)
     document_download_client.init_app(application)
 
+    global cbc_proxy_client
     if application.config['CBC_PROXY_AWS_ACCESS_KEY_ID']:
         cbc_proxy_client = CBCProxyClient()
     cbc_proxy_client.init_app(application)