diff --git a/vcf_cleaner.py b/vcf_cleaner.py
index 3a31c69..a6d83ae 100644
--- a/vcf_cleaner.py
+++ b/vcf_cleaner.py
@@ -73,8 +73,7 @@ for line in input_file:
         clean_nickname = []
         for nick in contact.nickname:
             nick = quopri.decodestring(nick).decode()
-            clean_n.append(nick)
-        contact.nickname = clean_nickname
+            clean_nickname.append(nick)
 
         # custom field reencoding
         for field in contact.custom: