diff --git a/includes/common.inc b/includes/common.inc
index ca996c122ad322bea337f75ac8d33dbcc54993f0..b1713a8f8b5736d9df9e972a3a404ed1c6cccd1a 100644
--- a/includes/common.inc
+++ b/includes/common.inc
@@ -740,8 +740,6 @@ function _drupal_error_handler($error_level, $message, $filename, $line, $contex
       E_STRICT => 'Strict warning',
       E_RECOVERABLE_ERROR => 'Recoverable fatal error'
     );
-    $backtrace = debug_backtrace();
-
     $caller = _drupal_get_last_caller(debug_backtrace());
 
     // We treat recoverable errors as fatal.