diff --git a/git-mergetool--lib.sh b/git-mergetool--lib.sh
index 2b6635130a..3e06389136 100644
--- a/git-mergetool--lib.sh
+++ b/git-mergetool--lib.sh
@@ -130,7 +130,6 @@ setup_user_tool () {
 		then
 			touch "$BACKUP"
 			( eval $merge_tool_cmd )
-			status=$?
 			check_unchanged
 		else
 			( eval $merge_tool_cmd )