diff --git a/src/pip/_internal/network/auth.py b/src/pip/_internal/network/auth.py
index 0993fc112a4..6f011e1aa65 100644
--- a/src/pip/_internal/network/auth.py
+++ b/src/pip/_internal/network/auth.py
@@ -63,9 +63,9 @@ def set_password(cls, service_name: str, username: str, password: str) -> None:
 try:
     import keyring
 except ImportError:
+    keyring = None  # type: ignore[assignment]
     if shutil.which("keyring") is not None:
         keyring = KeyRingCli  # type: ignore[assignment]
-    keyring = None  # type: ignore[assignment]
 except Exception as exc:
     logger.warning(
         "Keyring is skipped due to an exception: %s",