diff --git a/modules/tools/wakatime/autoload.el b/modules/tools/wakatime/autoload.el
index ad6f435c8..1589ca5bb 100644
--- a/modules/tools/wakatime/autoload.el
+++ b/modules/tools/wakatime/autoload.el
@@ -3,14 +3,11 @@
 ;;;###autoload
 (add-hook 'doom-after-switch-buffer-hook #'+wakatime-init)
 
-;;;###autoload
-(defvar wakatime-api-key nil)
-
 ;;;###autoload
 (defun +wakatime-init ()
   "Initialize wakatime (if `wakatime-api-key' is set, otherwise no-op with a
 warning)."
-  (if wakatime-api-key
+  (if (boundp 'wakatime-api-key)
       (global-wakatime-mode +1)
     (message "No `wakatime-api-key' set! wakaktime-mode will stay disabled."))
   (remove-hook 'doom-after-switch-buffer-hook #'+wakatime-init))