$ diff bind_columns.pl.1 bind_columns.pl 52c52 < my $sth->bind_columns(\$name); --- > $sth->bind_columns(\$name); $ perl bind_columns.pl.1 "my" variable $sth masks earlier declaration in same scope at bind_columns.pl.1 line 52. Can't call method "bind_columns" on an undefined value at bind_columns.pl.1 line 52. $ perl bind_columns.pl foo bar