diff --git a/src/lxc/cmd/lxc_init.c b/src/lxc/cmd/lxc_init.c
index a0dabb66a7..9168c7878c 100644
--- a/src/lxc/cmd/lxc_init.c
+++ b/src/lxc/cmd/lxc_init.c
@@ -150,7 +150,6 @@ static void prevent_forking(void)
 			SYSERROR("Failed to write to \"%s\"", path);
 
 		close(fd);
-		fd = -1;
 		break;
 	}