diff --git a/harness/determined/cli/token.py b/harness/determined/cli/token.py
index 4471ec24ec3..c2cc8f5e570 100644
--- a/harness/determined/cli/token.py
+++ b/harness/determined/cli/token.py
@@ -85,6 +85,7 @@ def create_token(args: argparse.Namespace) -> None:
             raise errors.CliError(f"User '{username}' not found or does not have an ID")
 
         # convert days into hours Go duration format
+        expiration_in_hours = None
         if args.expiration_days:
             expiration_in_hours = str(24 * args.expiration_days) + "h"