diff --git a/ml/role.py b/ml/role.py
index 5ca3cb018ea8d8455dce2dd085102ee121cc439e..a5ce823129f8c2e6d9e5d7b53d3edeb5bb634b8a 100644
--- a/ml/role.py
+++ b/ml/role.py
@@ -79,7 +79,7 @@ def identifier(self, value):
     def to_json(self):
         """Returns a JSON representation of this role."""
 
-        out = {"class": self.__class_name, "name": self.__name}
+        self.__json_out = {"class": self.__class_name, "name": self.__name}
         if self.identifier:
             self.__json_out["identifier"] = self.identifier
         return self.__json_out