diff --git a/src/Mbstring/Mbstring.php b/src/Mbstring/Mbstring.php
index 7be551bb8..e0af13eca 100644
--- a/src/Mbstring/Mbstring.php
+++ b/src/Mbstring/Mbstring.php
@@ -953,8 +953,8 @@ private static function title_case(array $s)
 
     private static function getData($file)
     {
-        if (file_exists($file = __DIR__.'/Resources/unidata/'.$file.'.php')) {
-            return require $file;
+        if (file_exists(__DIR__.'/Resources/unidata/'.$file.'.php')) {
+            return require __DIR__.'/Resources/unidata/'.$file.'.php';
         }
 
         return false;