diff --git a/backend/sm3600.c b/backend/sm3600.c
index dd1f31ff4..aca81b5d9 100644
--- a/backend/sm3600.c
+++ b/backend/sm3600.c
@@ -458,7 +458,6 @@ sane_open (SANE_String_Const devicename, SANE_Handle *handle)
 {
   TDevice    *pdev;
   TInstance  *this;
-  SANE_Status rc;
   DBG(DEBUG_VERBOSE,"opening %s\n",devicename);
   if (devicename[0]) /* selected */
     {
@@ -488,8 +487,6 @@ DBG(DEBUG_VERBOSE,"%s<>%s\n",devicename, pdev->sane.name);
   if (sanei_usb_open (devicename, &this->hScanner) != SANE_STATUS_GOOD)
     return SetError (this, SANE_STATUS_IO_ERROR, "cannot open scanner device");
 
-  rc = SANE_STATUS_GOOD;
-
   this->quality=fast;
   return InitOptions(this);
 }