diff --git a/ironic_python_agent/hardware.py b/ironic_python_agent/hardware.py
index 66d16bab2..62b02989e 100644
--- a/ironic_python_agent/hardware.py
+++ b/ironic_python_agent/hardware.py
@@ -1991,6 +1991,7 @@ class GenericHardwareManager(HardwareManager):
             return
         for dev in self._list_erasable_devices(node):
             safety_check_block_device(node, dev.name)
+            secure_erase_error = None
             try:
                 if self._is_nvme(dev):
                     execute_nvme_erase = info.get(
diff --git a/releasenotes/notes/fix_errors_in_erase_devices_express-f425c76b485a875f.yaml b/releasenotes/notes/fix_errors_in_erase_devices_express-f425c76b485a875f.yaml
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..d0eb471e4
--- /dev/null
+++ b/releasenotes/notes/fix_errors_in_erase_devices_express-f425c76b485a875f.yaml
@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+---
+fixes:
+  - |
+    Prevent the UnboundLocalError in erase_devices_express,
+    for example, on a disk failure.