diff --git a/lib/smtp.c b/lib/smtp.c
index 334814a8a..07fec11f9 100644
--- a/lib/smtp.c
+++ b/lib/smtp.c
@@ -475,7 +475,6 @@ static CURLcode smtp_perform_auth(struct connectdata *conn,
 static CURLcode smtp_perform_authentication(struct connectdata *conn)
 {
   CURLcode result = CURLE_OK;
-  struct smtp_conn *smtpc = &conn->proto.smtpc;
   const char *mech = NULL;
   char *initresp = NULL;
   size_t len = 0;