diff --git a/internal/dev/redpanda.go b/internal/dev/redpanda.go
index 1f3db1621..542f3f775 100644
--- a/internal/dev/redpanda.go
+++ b/internal/dev/redpanda.go
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@ import (
 var redpandaDockerCompose string
 
 // use this lock while checking redPandaRunning status and running `docker compose up` if needed
-var redPandaLock *sync.Mutex = &sync.Mutex{}
+var redPandaLock = &sync.Mutex{}
 var redPandaRunning bool
 
 func SetUpRedPanda(ctx context.Context) error {