diff --git a/check_ssl_cert b/check_ssl_cert
index 07e3617..0fd9aff 100755
--- a/check_ssl_cert
+++ b/check_ssl_cert
@@ -29,6 +29,9 @@
 VERSION=2.84.3
 SHORTNAME="SSL_CERT"
 
+# reset possibly set variables
+unset HOST
+
 VALID_ATTRIBUTES=",startdate,enddate,subject,issuer,modulus,serial,hash,email,ocsp_uri,fingerprint,"
 
 SIGNALS="HUP INT QUIT TERM ABRT"