diff --git a/dspace-api/src/main/java/org/dspace/storage/rdbms/SiteServiceInitializer.java b/dspace-api/src/main/java/org/dspace/storage/rdbms/SiteServiceInitializer.java
index d755150f79..26e76804e1 100644
--- a/dspace-api/src/main/java/org/dspace/storage/rdbms/SiteServiceInitializer.java
+++ b/dspace-api/src/main/java/org/dspace/storage/rdbms/SiteServiceInitializer.java
@@ -45,8 +45,8 @@ public class SiteServiceInitializer implements Callback {
             context = new Context();
             context.turnOffAuthorisationSystem();
             // Create Site object if it doesn't exist in database
-            Site site = null;
-            if (siteService.findSite(context) == null) {
+            Site site = siteService.findSite(context);
+            if (site == null) {
                 site = siteService.createSite(context);
             }
             context.restoreAuthSystemState();