diff --git a/mk2rbc/mk2rbc_test.go b/mk2rbc/mk2rbc_test.go
index 083d0bc06..59a33198e 100644
--- a/mk2rbc/mk2rbc_test.go
+++ b/mk2rbc/mk2rbc_test.go
@@ -226,6 +226,9 @@ ifdef  PRODUCT_NAME
   PRODUCT_NAME = gizmo
 else
 endif
+local_var :=
+ifdef local_var
+endif
 `,
 		expected: `load("//build/make/core:product_config.rbc", "rblf")
 
@@ -235,6 +238,9 @@ def init(g, handle):
     cfg["PRODUCT_NAME"] = "gizmo"
   else:
     pass
+  _local_var = ""
+  if _local_var:
+    pass
 `,
 	},
 	{
diff --git a/mk2rbc/variable.go b/mk2rbc/variable.go
index 4bb9ed52d..ded07fed6 100644
--- a/mk2rbc/variable.go
+++ b/mk2rbc/variable.go
@@ -177,8 +177,8 @@ type localVariable struct {
 	baseVariable
 }
 
-func (lv localVariable) emitDefined(_ *generationContext) {
-	panic("implement me")
+func (lv localVariable) emitDefined(gctx *generationContext) {
+	gctx.writef(lv.String())
 }
 
 func (lv localVariable) String() string {