diff --git a/src/network/kernel/qauthenticator.cpp b/src/network/kernel/qauthenticator.cpp
index a8777962eea..4daf11cb3eb 100644
--- a/src/network/kernel/qauthenticator.cpp
+++ b/src/network/kernel/qauthenticator.cpp
@@ -643,7 +643,6 @@ QHash<QByteArray, QByteArray> QAuthenticatorPrivate::parseDigestAuthenticationCh
             ++d;
         if (d >= end)
             break;
-        start = d;
         QByteArray value;
         while (d < end) {
             bool backslash = false;