diff --git a/src/rbindlist.c b/src/rbindlist.c
index 0b1067140..40fcd8fe0 100644
--- a/src/rbindlist.c
+++ b/src/rbindlist.c
@@ -273,7 +273,6 @@ SEXP rbindlist(SEXP l, SEXP usenamesArg, SEXP fillArg, SEXP idcolArg, SEXP ignor
   }
 
   SEXP coercedForFactor = NULL;
-  int nprotect = 0;
   for(int j=0; j<ncol; ++j) {
     int maxType=LGLSXP;  // initialize with LGLSXP for test 2002.3 which has col x NULL in both lists to be filled with NA for #1871
     bool factor=false, orderedFactor=false;     // ordered factor is class c("ordered","factor"). isFactor() is true when isOrdered() is true.