diff --git a/parser/parser.go b/parser/parser.go
index 3a1f8e0..d5ccc6b 100644
--- a/parser/parser.go
+++ b/parser/parser.go
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@ package parser
 
 import (
 	"fmt"
+	"reflect"
 	"strconv"
 	"strings"
 
@@ -107,7 +108,9 @@ func (p *parser) parseProgram() *ast.Program {
 			}
 		}
 
-		if stmt != nil && strings.TrimSpace(stmt.String()) != "" {
+		if stmt != nil &&
+			(reflect.ValueOf(stmt).Kind() == reflect.Ptr && !reflect.ValueOf(stmt).IsNil()) &&
+			strings.TrimSpace(stmt.String()) != "" {
 			program.Statements = append(program.Statements, stmt)
 		}
 
diff --git a/variables_test.go b/variables_test.go
index a3d2c89..55d0b02 100644
--- a/variables_test.go
+++ b/variables_test.go
@@ -27,7 +27,19 @@ func Test_Let_Reassignment(t *testing.T) {
 	r.NoError(err)
 	r.Equal("bar\n    \n  \nbaz", strings.TrimSpace(s))
 }
+func Test_Let_Ident_NotInitialized(t *testing.T) {
+	r := require.New(t)
+	input := `<% let foo
+		if (foo){
+			foo = 1
+		}
+	%>`
+
+	ctx := NewContext()
 
+	_, err := Render(input, ctx)
+	r.Error(err)
+}
 func Test_Let_Reassignment_UnknownIdent(t *testing.T) {
 	r := require.New(t)
 	input := `<% foo = "baz" %>`