diff --git a/qutebrowser/utils/urlutils.py b/qutebrowser/utils/urlutils.py
index 5019f8e22..b2f2005db 100644
--- a/qutebrowser/utils/urlutils.py
+++ b/qutebrowser/utils/urlutils.py
@@ -194,7 +194,7 @@ def is_url(urlstr):
     log.url.debug("Checking if '{}' is a URL (autosearch={}).".format(
                   urlstr, autosearch))
 
-    url = urlstr.strip()
+    urlstr = urlstr.strip()
     qurl = QUrl(urlstr)
 
     if not autosearch: