diff --git a/go/vt/discovery/healthcheck.go b/go/vt/discovery/healthcheck.go
index 5572e9a41d9..5d6a5e32662 100644
--- a/go/vt/discovery/healthcheck.go
+++ b/go/vt/discovery/healthcheck.go
@@ -774,7 +774,6 @@ func FilterTargetsByKeyspaces(keyspaces []string, targets []*query.Target) []*qu
 func (hc *HealthCheckImpl) waitForTablets(ctx context.Context, targets []*query.Target, requireServing bool) error {
 	targets = FilterTargetsByKeyspaces(KeyspacesToWatch, targets)
 
-	var tabletHealths []*TabletHealth
 	for {
 		// We nil targets as we find them.
 		allPresent := true
@@ -783,6 +782,7 @@ func (hc *HealthCheckImpl) waitForTablets(ctx context.Context, targets []*query.
 				continue
 			}
 
+			var tabletHealths []*TabletHealth
 			if requireServing {
 				tabletHealths = hc.GetHealthyTabletStats(target)
 			} else {