diff --git a/lib/edusign/client.rb b/lib/edusign/client.rb
index 8a884a1..b611d93 100644
--- a/lib/edusign/client.rb
+++ b/lib/edusign/client.rb
@@ -183,11 +183,12 @@ def update_student(student_uid:, first_name:, last_name:, email:, group_uids: []
     end
 
     def create_or_update_student(first_name:, last_name:, email:, student_uid: nil, group_uids: [])
-      student = student_uid.present? ? student_by_uid(student_uid: student_uid) : student_by_email(email: email)
+      @student = student_by_uid(student_uid: student_uid) if student_uid.present?
+      @student = student_by_email(email: email) if @student.nil?
       raise Response::Error, "Student doesn't exist" if student.nil?
-      raise Response::Error, "Student was deleted from edusign" if student[:HIDDEN] == 1
+      raise Response::Error, "Student was deleted from edusign" if @student[:HIDDEN] == 1
 
-      update_student(student_uid: student[:ID], first_name: first_name, last_name: last_name, email: email, group_uids: group_uids)
+      update_student(student_uid: @student[:ID], first_name: first_name, last_name: last_name, email: email, group_uids: group_uids)
     rescue Response::Error => _e
       create_student(first_name: first_name, last_name: last_name, email: email, group_uids: group_uids)
     end