diff --git a/builtin/game/hud.lua b/builtin/game/hud.lua
index dc7101caa..1bc4b48d7 100644
--- a/builtin/game/hud.lua
+++ b/builtin/game/hud.lua
@@ -224,10 +224,10 @@ register_builtin_hud_element("breath", {
 				-- The breathbar stays for some time and then gets removed.
 				breathbar_removal_jobs[player_name] = core.after(1, function()
 					local player = core.get_player_by_name(player_name)
-					local id = hud_ids[player_name]
-					if player and id and id.breath then
-						player:hud_remove(id.breath)
-						hud_ids[player_name].breath = nil
+					local player_hud_ids = hud_ids[player_name]
+					if player and player_hud_ids and player_hud_ids.breath then
+						player:hud_remove(player_hud_ids.breath)
+						player_hud_ids.breath = nil
 					end
 					breathbar_removal_jobs[player_name] = nil
 				end)