diff --git a/modules/database/src/ioc/db/dbEvent.c b/modules/database/src/ioc/db/dbEvent.c
index 38ec9e701..44059dbfa 100644
--- a/modules/database/src/ioc/db/dbEvent.c
+++ b/modules/database/src/ioc/db/dbEvent.c
@@ -1008,7 +1008,6 @@ static void event_task (void *pParm)
     do {
         void (*pExtraLaborSub) (void *);
         void *pExtraLaborArg;
-        char wake;
         epicsEventMustWait(evUser->ppendsem);
 
         /*