diff --git a/usr/libexec/netconsole b/usr/libexec/netconsole
index 26c9baab..d734ea50 100755
--- a/usr/libexec/netconsole
+++ b/usr/libexec/netconsole
@@ -36,8 +36,6 @@ SYSLOGADDR=
 SYSLOGPORT=514
 SYSLOGMACADDR=
 
-kernel=$(uname -r | cut -d. -f1-2)
-
 usage ()
 {
 	echo $"Usage: $0 {start|stop|status|restart|condrestart}" 1>&2