diff --git a/ebtables.c b/ebtables.c
index 24613c2..e6f798b 100644
--- a/ebtables.c
+++ b/ebtables.c
@@ -1473,7 +1473,7 @@
 // the main thing
 int main(int argc, char *argv[])
 {
-	char *buffer, allowbc = 'n';
+	char *buffer;
 	int c, i;
 	// this special one for the -Z option (we can have -Z <this> -L <that>)
 	int zerochain = -1;