diff --git a/notebooks/lib/bindings/utils.js b/notebooks/lib/bindings/utils.js
index 088effe..0e83f5d 100644
--- a/notebooks/lib/bindings/utils.js
+++ b/notebooks/lib/bindings/utils.js
@@ -1,3 +1,5 @@
+let highlightActive = false;
+
 function neighbourhoodHighlight(params) {
   // console.log("in nieghbourhoodhighlight");
   allNodes = nodes.get({ returnType: "Object" });