diff --git a/litellm/proxy/policy_engine/pipeline_executor.py b/litellm/proxy/policy_engine/pipeline_executor.py
index 56f00c11be..c1e2d76e7c 100644
--- a/litellm/proxy/policy_engine/pipeline_executor.py
+++ b/litellm/proxy/policy_engine/pipeline_executor.py
@@ -154,7 +154,6 @@ class PipelineExecutor:
             # Inject guardrail name into metadata so should_run_guardrail() allows it
             if "metadata" not in data:
                 data["metadata"] = {}
-            original_guardrails = data["metadata"].get("guardrails")
             data["metadata"]["guardrails"] = [step.guardrail]
 
             # Use unified_guardrail path if callback implements apply_guardrail