diff --git a/sys/kern/kern_thread.c b/sys/kern/kern_thread.c
index bb724a17803..57d235c002f 100644
--- a/sys/kern/kern_thread.c
+++ b/sys/kern/kern_thread.c
@@ -856,7 +856,6 @@ thread_cow_update(struct thread *td)
 	struct plimit *oldlimit;
 
 	p = td->td_proc;
-	oldlimit = NULL;
 	PROC_LOCK(p);
 	oldcred = crcowsync();
 	oldlimit = lim_cowsync();