diff --git a/src/git_commit_guard/__init__.py b/src/git_commit_guard/__init__.py
index 2219da6..46d252b 100644
--- a/src/git_commit_guard/__init__.py
+++ b/src/git_commit_guard/__init__.py
@@ -169,6 +169,7 @@ def check_imperative(desc, result):
 
 
 def check_body(lines, result):
+    separator = lines[1] if len(lines) > 1 else ""
     if len(lines) < 3:  # noqa: PLR2004
         result.error("missing body")
         return