diff --git a/chrome/content/zotero/xpcom/csl.js b/chrome/content/zotero/xpcom/csl.js
index 07384db134..b44a6dae2e 100644
--- a/chrome/content/zotero/xpcom/csl.js
+++ b/chrome/content/zotero/xpcom/csl.js
@@ -996,10 +996,9 @@ Zotero.CSL.prototype._processElements = function(item, element, formattedString,
 						
 						variableString.append(string, newChild);
 					}
-					
-					newString.concat(variableString);
 				}
 				
+				newString.concat(variableString);
 				formattedString.concat(newString, child);
 			}