diff --git a/lib/Stow.pm.in b/lib/Stow.pm.in
index af39212..678362d 100755
--- a/lib/Stow.pm.in
+++ b/lib/Stow.pm.in
@@ -520,9 +520,9 @@ sub stow_node {
         debug(4, 1, "Evaluate existing link: $target_subpath => $existing_link_dest");
 
         # Does it point to a node under any stow directory?
-        my ($existing_path, $existing_stow_path, $existing_package) =
+        my ($existing_pkg_path_from_cwd, $existing_stow_path, $existing_package) =
             $self->find_stowed_path($target_subpath, $existing_link_dest);
-        if (not $existing_path) {
+        if (not $existing_pkg_path_from_cwd) {
             $self->conflict(
                 'stow',
                 $package,
@@ -532,7 +532,7 @@ sub stow_node {
         }
 
         # Does the existing $target_subpath actually point to anything?
-        if ($self->is_a_node($existing_path)) {
+        if ($self->is_a_node($existing_pkg_path_from_cwd)) {
             if ($existing_link_dest eq $source) {
                 debug(2, 0, "--- Skipping $target_subpath as it already points to $source");
             }