diff --git a/go/plugins/googleai/googleai.go b/go/plugins/googleai/googleai.go
index a07bbea6ba..6c637c2323 100644
--- a/go/plugins/googleai/googleai.go
+++ b/go/plugins/googleai/googleai.go
@@ -72,7 +72,7 @@ func Init(ctx context.Context, apiKey string) (err error) {
 	}()
 
 	if apiKey == "" {
-		apiKey := os.Getenv("GOOGLE_GENAI_API_KEY")
+		apiKey = os.Getenv("GOOGLE_GENAI_API_KEY")
 		if apiKey == "" {
 			return fmt.Errorf("googleai.Init: Google AI requires setting GOOGLE_GENAI_API_KEY in the environment. You can get an API key at https://ai.google.dev")
 		}