diff --git a/src/folio_data_import/UserImport.py b/src/folio_data_import/UserImport.py
index 651b4ab..709bae7 100644
--- a/src/folio_data_import/UserImport.py
+++ b/src/folio_data_import/UserImport.py
@@ -501,6 +501,7 @@ async def process_existing_user(self, user_obj) -> Tuple[dict, dict, dict, dict]
             existing_rp = {}
             existing_pu = {}
             existing_spu = {}
+            protected_fields = {}
         return rp_obj, spu_obj, existing_user, protected_fields, existing_rp, existing_pu, existing_spu
 
     async def create_or_update_rp(self, rp_obj, existing_rp, new_user_obj):