diff --git a/.emacs b/.emacs
index 62c346d..c6a4a43 100644
--- a/.emacs
+++ b/.emacs
@@ -861,7 +861,7 @@
 		"Runs synchronization with jupyter-ascending "
 		(interactive)
 		(when (string-match-p ".sync.py\\'" (buffer-name))
-			(unless atu/jupyter-sync-inhibit
+			(unless (and (boundp 'atu/jupyter-sync-inhibit) atu/jupyter-sync-inhibit)
 				(call-process "python"
 					nil nil nil
 					"-m" "jupyter_ascending.requests.sync" "--filename" (buffer-file-name)