diff --git a/Lib/shlex.py b/Lib/shlex.py
index 97b8f2e5c04..e50b9adf904 100644
--- a/Lib/shlex.py
+++ b/Lib/shlex.py
@@ -96,7 +96,6 @@ class shlex:
 
     def read_token(self):
         "Read a token from the input stream (no pushback or inclusions)"
-        tok = ''
         while 1:
             nextchar = self.instream.read(1)
             if nextchar == '\n':