diff --git a/xCAT-server/lib/perl/xCAT/Postage.pm b/xCAT-server/lib/perl/xCAT/Postage.pm
index 40593fa7c..3d17cd1f9 100644
--- a/xCAT-server/lib/perl/xCAT/Postage.pm
+++ b/xCAT-server/lib/perl/xCAT/Postage.pm
@@ -492,7 +492,7 @@ sub makescript {
     # if using zones then must go to the zone.sshbetweennodes
     # else go to site.sshbetweennodes
     my $enablesshbetweennodes;
-    my $zonename;
+    my $zonename="\'\'";
     if ($usingzones) {
        $enablesshbetweennodes = enableSSHbetweennodeszones($node,$callback); 
        $enablesshbetweennodes = enableSSHbetweennodeszones($node,$callback);