diff --git a/app/assets/javascripts/protocols/import_export/import.js b/app/assets/javascripts/protocols/import_export/import.js
index e439dcac2..cad018cac 100644
--- a/app/assets/javascripts/protocols/import_export/import.js
+++ b/app/assets/javascripts/protocols/import_export/import.js
@@ -513,18 +513,22 @@ function importProtocolFromFile(
 
   function importSingleProtocol(index, replaceVals, resultCallback) {
     // Retrieve general protocol info
-    var name = $('#import_protocol_name').val();
-    var authors = $('#protocol_authors').val();
+    var name;
+    var authors;
     var createdAt = '';
     var updatedAt = '';
     var descriptionAssetsJson = [];
     var protocolDescription;
     var protocolJson = {};
-    var steps = $(protocolXmls[index]).find('protocol > steps > step');
+    var steps;
     var stepsJson = [];
 
     previewProtocol(index, replaceVals);
 
+    name = $('#import_protocol_name').val();
+    authors = $('#protocol_authors').val();
+    steps = $(protocolXmls[index]).find('protocol > steps > step');
+
     $(protocolXmls[index]).find('protocol').each(function() {
       createdAt = $(this).find('created_at').text();
       updatedAt = $(this).find('updated_at').text();