diff --git a/lib/readline.js b/lib/readline.js
index 615bd358409..9bca13a727f 100644
--- a/lib/readline.js
+++ b/lib/readline.js
@@ -562,7 +562,6 @@ Interface.prototype._moveCursor = function(dx) {
 
 // handle a write from the tty
 Interface.prototype._ttyWrite = function(s, key) {
-  var next_word, next_non_word, previous_word, previous_non_word;
   key = key || {};
 
   // Ignore escape key - Fixes #2876