diff --git a/poseidon2_convert.sh b/poseidon2_convert.sh
index 1df1db5..9b37998 100755
--- a/poseidon2_convert.sh
+++ b/poseidon2_convert.sh
@@ -47,7 +47,7 @@ _ped2eig() {
   _output_directory=${2}
   _log_file_directory=${3}
   # loop to get links to bed, bim and fam file
-  _file_list=()
+  unset _file_list
   for extension in bed bim fam
   do
     _file_list+=($(find "${_input_package}/" -name "*.${extension}"))
diff --git a/poseidon2_merge.sh b/poseidon2_merge.sh
index 8d1c41f..6935442 100755
--- a/poseidon2_merge.sh
+++ b/poseidon2_merge.sh
@@ -111,7 +111,7 @@ _janno_merge() {
   _input_file=${1}
   _output_file="${2}/${3}.janno"
   # loop through all packages directories
-  _janno_files=()
+  unset _janno_files
   while read p; do
     # ignore empty names and lines starting with in the input dir list
     case ${p} in
@@ -155,7 +155,7 @@ _create_order_file_from_fam_files() {
   _input_file=${1}
   _output_file=${2}
   # loop through all packages directories
-  _fam_files=()
+  unset _fam_files
   while read p; do
     # ignore empty names and lines starting with in the input dir list
     case ${p} in