diff --git a/internal/auth/auth.go b/internal/auth/auth.go
index 02fae261e..c7788a60d 100644
--- a/internal/auth/auth.go
+++ b/internal/auth/auth.go
@@ -327,6 +327,7 @@ func (v verifier) performAuthCheck() (aclResults perms.ACLResults, userId string
 			if userId == "" {
 				v.logger.Warn("perform auth check: valid token did not map to a user, likely because no account is associated with the user any longer; continuing as u_anon", "token_id", at.GetPublicId())
 				userId = "u_anon"
+				accountId = ""
 			}
 		}
 	}