diff --git a/src/libxl/libxl_driver.c b/src/libxl/libxl_driver.c
index fc90d1650c..500d51b4ba 100644
--- a/src/libxl/libxl_driver.c
+++ b/src/libxl/libxl_driver.c
@@ -1079,8 +1079,6 @@ libxlOpen(virConnectPtr conn,
 static int
 libxlClose(virConnectPtr conn ATTRIBUTE_UNUSED)
 {
-    libxlDriverPrivatePtr driver = conn->privateData;
-
     conn->privateData = NULL;
     return 0;
 }