diff --git a/python/libxml.c b/python/libxml.c
index cfdaac86..3e26e2d6 100644
--- a/python/libxml.c
+++ b/python/libxml.c
@@ -2762,7 +2762,6 @@ libxml_serializeNode(ATTRIBUTE_UNUSED PyObject * self, PyObject * args)
     xmlDocPtr doc;
     const char *encoding;
     int format;
-    int len;
     xmlSaveCtxtPtr ctxt;
     xmlBufferPtr buf;
     int options = 0;