diff --git a/git-commit.sh b/git-commit.sh
index 6bce41af4..04aad5e5d 100755
--- a/git-commit.sh
+++ b/git-commit.sh
@@ -8,7 +8,6 @@ SUBDIRECTORY_OK=Yes
 . git-sh-setup
 
 git-rev-parse --verify HEAD >/dev/null 2>&1 || initial_commit=t
-branch=$(GIT_DIR="$GIT_DIR" git-symbolic-ref HEAD)
 
 case "$0" in
 *status)