diff --git a/drivers/net/rtl8169.c b/drivers/net/rtl8169.c
index b81dcad2ce5f92c9454732c5d0089ff0974dc1e4..1ad13bddd5a9778bfa6143a9ac5a1fe713acd332 100644
--- a/drivers/net/rtl8169.c
+++ b/drivers/net/rtl8169.c
@@ -739,7 +739,6 @@ INIT - Look for an adapter, this routine's visible to the outside
 static int rtl_init(struct eth_device *dev, bd_t *bis)
 {
 	static int board_idx = -1;
-	static int printed_version = 0;
 	int i, rc;
 	int option = -1, Cap10_100 = 0, Cap1000 = 0;
 
@@ -751,8 +750,6 @@ static int rtl_init(struct eth_device *dev, bd_t *bis)
 
 	board_idx++;
 
-	printed_version = 1;
-
 	/* point to private storage */
 	tpc = &tpx;