diff --git a/lib/jasmine-core/jasmine.js b/lib/jasmine-core/jasmine.js
index bfac4cb7..56c920ec 100644
--- a/lib/jasmine-core/jasmine.js
+++ b/lib/jasmine-core/jasmine.js
@@ -30,7 +30,7 @@ function getJasmineRequireObj() {
 }
 
 getJasmineRequireObj().core = function(jRequire) {
-  j$ = {};
+  var j$ = {};
 
   jRequire.base(j$);
   j$.util = jRequire.util();
diff --git a/src/core/requireCore.js b/src/core/requireCore.js
index caa711eb..bdcd20c6 100644
--- a/src/core/requireCore.js
+++ b/src/core/requireCore.js
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@ function getJasmineRequireObj() {
 }
 
 getJasmineRequireObj().core = function(jRequire) {
-  j$ = {};
+  var j$ = {};
 
   jRequire.base(j$);
   j$.util = jRequire.util();