diff --git a/lib/gpt/qcd/gauge/stencil/staple.py b/lib/gpt/qcd/gauge/stencil/staple.py
index 41820bd5..64b043dd 100644
--- a/lib/gpt/qcd/gauge/stencil/staple.py
+++ b/lib/gpt/qcd/gauge/stencil/staple.py
@@ -34,7 +34,6 @@ def staple_sum(U, rho, mu=None, cache=default_staple_cache):
 
     Ntarget = len(target_mu)
 
-    t = g.timer("staples")
     if tag not in cache:
         code = []
         nwr = [0] * Ntarget