diff --git a/pkg/cookiebanner/worker.go b/pkg/cookiebanner/worker.go
index 49345c8b1..9aac649de 100644
--- a/pkg/cookiebanner/worker.go
+++ b/pkg/cookiebanner/worker.go
@@ -349,9 +349,6 @@ func findMergeGroups(
 func heuristicTemplate(name string) (string, bool) {
 	tokens, sep := splitTokens(name)
 	if sep == 0 {
-		if looksVariable(name) {
-			return "*", true
-		}
 		return "", false
 	}
 
diff --git a/pkg/cookiebanner/worker_test.go b/pkg/cookiebanner/worker_test.go
index e79419f7e..d275218fd 100644
--- a/pkg/cookiebanner/worker_test.go
+++ b/pkg/cookiebanner/worker_test.go
@@ -200,8 +200,8 @@ func TestHeuristicTemplate(t *testing.T) {
 		{
 			name:     "no separator with variable token",
 			input:    "a1b2c3d4e5f6g7h8",
-			template: "*",
-			changed:  true,
+			template: "",
+			changed:  false,
 		},
 		{
 			name:     "no separator without variable token",