diff --git a/drivers/net/ixgb/ixgb_main.c b/drivers/net/ixgb/ixgb_main.c
index 269e6f805f47..6738b4d097fe 100644
--- a/drivers/net/ixgb/ixgb_main.c
+++ b/drivers/net/ixgb/ixgb_main.c
@@ -2088,14 +2088,12 @@ ixgb_alloc_rx_buffers(struct ixgb_adapter *adapter)
 	struct ixgb_buffer *buffer_info;
 	struct sk_buff *skb;
 	unsigned int i;
-	int num_group_tail_writes;
 	long cleancount;
 
 	i = rx_ring->next_to_use;
 	buffer_info = &rx_ring->buffer_info[i];
 	cleancount = IXGB_DESC_UNUSED(rx_ring);
 
-	num_group_tail_writes = IXGB_RX_BUFFER_WRITE;
 
 	/* leave three descriptors unused */
 	while(--cleancount > 2) {