diff --git a/cpp/ql/src/Best Practices/SloppyGlobal.ql b/cpp/ql/src/Best Practices/SloppyGlobal.ql
index 4c1935627d5..b20e0271db8 100644
--- a/cpp/ql/src/Best Practices/SloppyGlobal.ql	
+++ b/cpp/ql/src/Best Practices/SloppyGlobal.ql	
@@ -14,6 +14,9 @@ import semmle.code.cpp.ConfigurationTestFile
 from GlobalVariable gv
 where
   gv.getName().length() <= 3 and
+  // We will give an alert for the TemplateVariable, so we don't
+  // need to also give one for each instantiation
+  not gv instanceof VariableTemplateInstantiation and
   not gv.isStatic() and
   not gv.getFile() instanceof ConfigurationTestFile // variables in files generated during configuration are likely false positives
 select gv,