diff --git a/src/bin/cli.ml b/src/bin/cli.ml
index 0c82c442e..540b07f12 100644
--- a/src/bin/cli.ml
+++ b/src/bin/cli.ml
@@ -475,7 +475,6 @@ let list_declarations =
   (Term.ret term , Term.info ~doc cmdname)
 
 let run ?argv () =
-  Var.reset_counter ();
   Term.eval_choice ?argv main [
     temp_ligo_interpreter ;
     compile_file ;
diff --git a/src/bin/expect_tests/cli_expect.ml b/src/bin/expect_tests/cli_expect.ml
index 7006d2124..a23a84268 100644
--- a/src/bin/expect_tests/cli_expect.ml
+++ b/src/bin/expect_tests/cli_expect.ml
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@ exception Should_exit_bad
 let () = Unix.putenv "TERM" "dumb"
 
 let run_ligo args =
+  Var.reset_counter ();
   let argv = Array.of_list ("ligo" :: args) in
   let result = Cli.run ~argv () in
   Term.exit_status_of_result result