diff --git a/src/topology-read/examples/topology-example-sim.cc b/src/topology-read/examples/topology-example-sim.cc
index 8c392800b..0a1b063a1 100644
--- a/src/topology-read/examples/topology-example-sim.cc
+++ b/src/topology-read/examples/topology-example-sim.cc
@@ -76,15 +76,12 @@ int main (int argc, char *argv[])
   // --------------------------------------------
 
   // Pick a topology reader based in the requested format.
-
-  Ptr<TopologyReader> inFile = 0;
   TopologyReaderHelper topoHelp;
-
-  NodeContainer nodes;
-
   topoHelp.SetFileName (input);
   topoHelp.SetFileType (format);
-  inFile = topoHelp.GetTopologyReader ();
+  Ptr<TopologyReader> inFile = topoHelp.GetTopologyReader ();
+
+  NodeContainer nodes;
 
   if (inFile != 0)
     {