diff --git a/src/ifcopenshell-python/ifcopenshell/util/placement.py b/src/ifcopenshell-python/ifcopenshell/util/placement.py
index 5f8ad154b6..51572561a1 100644
--- a/src/ifcopenshell-python/ifcopenshell/util/placement.py
+++ b/src/ifcopenshell-python/ifcopenshell/util/placement.py
@@ -165,6 +165,8 @@ def get_cartesiantransformationoperator3d(inst: ifcopenshell.entity_instance) ->
     if inst.is_a("IfcCartesianTransformationOperator3DnonUniform"):
         scale2 = inst.Scale2 if inst.Scale2 is not None else scale1
         scale3 = inst.Scale3 if inst.Scale3 is not None else scale1
+    else:
+        scale2 = scale3 = scale1
 
     m4.T[0] *= scale1
     m4.T[1] *= scale2