diff --git a/homeassistant/components/automation/__init__.py b/homeassistant/components/automation/__init__.py
index 8ab9c478bc4..2081ea938ae 100644
--- a/homeassistant/components/automation/__init__.py
+++ b/homeassistant/components/automation/__init__.py
@@ -991,15 +991,15 @@ async def _create_automation_entities(
 
         # Add trigger variables to variables
         variables = None
-        if CONF_TRIGGER_VARIABLES in config_block:
+        if CONF_TRIGGER_VARIABLES in config_block and CONF_VARIABLES in config_block:
             variables = ScriptVariables(
                 dict(config_block[CONF_TRIGGER_VARIABLES].as_dict())
             )
-        if CONF_VARIABLES in config_block:
-            if variables:
-                variables.variables.update(config_block[CONF_VARIABLES].as_dict())
-            else:
-                variables = config_block[CONF_VARIABLES]
+            variables.variables.update(config_block[CONF_VARIABLES].as_dict())
+        elif CONF_TRIGGER_VARIABLES in config_block:
+            variables = config_block[CONF_TRIGGER_VARIABLES]
+        elif CONF_VARIABLES in config_block:
+            variables = config_block[CONF_VARIABLES]
 
         entity = AutomationEntity(
             automation_id,