diff --git a/list_special.c b/list_special.c
index 0c1a0003d8..03e2562b69 100644
--- a/list_special.c
+++ b/list_special.c
@@ -280,7 +280,6 @@ struct string_list *string_list_new_special(enum string_list_type type,
 error:
    string_list_free(s);
    s    = NULL;
-   *len = 0;
    return NULL;
 }