diff --git a/epub2md/html_converter.py b/epub2md/html_converter.py
index 5ce4bb9..15ff259 100644
--- a/epub2md/html_converter.py
+++ b/epub2md/html_converter.py
@@ -1233,8 +1233,8 @@ class Renderer:
             finally:
                 self.strong -= 1
         if name in ("del", "s", "strike"):
-            marker = ("~~", "~~") if self.opt.format == "gfm" else ("<del>", "</del>")
-            return pre + self._wrap(self.inline_children(el), marker[0], marker[1])
+            del_open, del_close = ("~~", "~~") if self.opt.format == "gfm" else ("<del>", "</del>")
+            return pre + self._wrap(self.inline_children(el), del_open, del_close)
         if name in ("u", "ins", "mark", "kbd", "sup", "sub"):
             if name in ("sup", "sub"):
                 elems = [c for c in el if is_element(c)]