diff --git a/test/system/libs/helpers.bash b/test/system/libs/helpers.bash
index 79dd1f2..deb0707 100644
--- a/test/system/libs/helpers.bash
+++ b/test/system/libs/helpers.bash
@@ -439,7 +439,7 @@ function container_started() {
   start_container "$container_name"
 
   # Used as a return value
-  container_initialized=1
+  local -i container_initialized=1
 
   local -i j
   local num_of_retries=5