diff --git a/apps/openmw/mwmechanics/actors.cpp b/apps/openmw/mwmechanics/actors.cpp
index 020632c7d..2383dde79 100644
--- a/apps/openmw/mwmechanics/actors.cpp
+++ b/apps/openmw/mwmechanics/actors.cpp
@@ -358,7 +358,8 @@ namespace MWMechanics
         }
 
         // If set in the settings file, player followers and escorters will become aggressive toward enemies in combat with them or the player
-        if (!aggressive && isPlayerFollowerOrEscorter && Settings::Manager::getBool("followers attack on sight", "Game"))
+        static const bool followersAttackOnSight = Settings::Manager::getBool("followers attack on sight", "Game");
+        if (!aggressive && isPlayerFollowerOrEscorter && followersAttackOnSight)
         {
             if (actor2.getClass().getCreatureStats(actor2).getAiSequence().isInCombat(actor1))
                 aggressive = true;