diff --git a/semantic_router/index/pinecone.py b/semantic_router/index/pinecone.py
index d9fe537fb9587bd167c1eff13f4331621a6d09be..e83b9f4492155c1139393cf63fdb12383d566e63 100644
--- a/semantic_router/index/pinecone.py
+++ b/semantic_router/index/pinecone.py
@@ -237,11 +237,11 @@ class PineconeIndex(BaseIndex):
                     f"{force_create=}"
                 )
                 index = None
+        else:
+            index = self.index
         if self.index is not None and self.host == "":
             index = self.index
             self.host = self.client.describe_index(self.index_name)["host"]
-        elif self.index is not None:
-            index = self.index
         return index
 
     async def _init_async_index(self, force_create: bool = False):