diff --git a/karate-core/src/main/java/com/intuit/karate/Suite.java b/karate-core/src/main/java/com/intuit/karate/Suite.java
index c07c5b998..7fa65ddee 100644
--- a/karate-core/src/main/java/com/intuit/karate/Suite.java
+++ b/karate-core/src/main/java/com/intuit/karate/Suite.java
@@ -139,9 +139,9 @@ public Suite(Runner.Builder rb) {
             outputHtmlReport = false;
             outputCucumberJson = false;
             outputJunitXml = false;
-            var contextClassLoader = Thread.currentThread().getContextClassLoader();
+            ClassLoader contextClassLoader = Thread.currentThread().getContextClassLoader();
             if (contextClassLoader != null) {
-                classLoader = Thread.currentThread().getContextClassLoader();
+                classLoader = contextClassLoader;
             } else {
                 classLoader = getClass().getClassLoader();
             }