diff --git a/drivers/spi/spi-ppc4xx.c b/drivers/spi/spi-ppc4xx.c
index 0ea2d9a369d9..738a1e4e445e 100644
--- a/drivers/spi/spi-ppc4xx.c
+++ b/drivers/spi/spi-ppc4xx.c
@@ -170,10 +170,8 @@ static int spi_ppc4xx_setupxfer(struct spi_device *spi, struct spi_transfer *t)
 	int scr;
 	u8 cdm = 0;
 	u32 speed;
-	u8 bits_per_word;
 
 	/* Start with the generic configuration for this device. */
-	bits_per_word = spi->bits_per_word;
 	speed = spi->max_speed_hz;
 
 	/*
@@ -181,9 +179,6 @@ static int spi_ppc4xx_setupxfer(struct spi_device *spi, struct spi_transfer *t)
 	 * the transfer to overwrite the generic configuration with zeros.
 	 */
 	if (t) {
-		if (t->bits_per_word)
-			bits_per_word = t->bits_per_word;
-
 		if (t->speed_hz)
 			speed = min(t->speed_hz, spi->max_speed_hz);
 	}