diff --git a/common/lib/xmodule/capa_module.py b/common/lib/xmodule/capa_module.py
index a4140c7489..ad3e88207b 100644
--- a/common/lib/xmodule/capa_module.py
+++ b/common/lib/xmodule/capa_module.py
@@ -24,10 +24,10 @@ def only_one(lst, default="", process=lambda x: x):
     If lst has a single element, applies process to that element and returns it
     Otherwise, raises an exeception
     """
-    if len(l) == 0:
+    if len(lst) == 0:
         return default
-    elif len(l) == 1:
-        return process(l[0])
+    elif len(lst) == 1:
+        return process(lst[0])
     else:
         raise Exception('Malformed XML')