diff --git a/smack-core/src/main/java/org/jivesoftware/smack/util/XmlStringBuilder.java b/smack-core/src/main/java/org/jivesoftware/smack/util/XmlStringBuilder.java
index f46597929..a9b931c51 100644
--- a/smack-core/src/main/java/org/jivesoftware/smack/util/XmlStringBuilder.java
+++ b/smack-core/src/main/java/org/jivesoftware/smack/util/XmlStringBuilder.java
@@ -55,7 +55,6 @@ public class XmlStringBuilder implements Appendable, CharSequence, Element {
 
     public XmlStringBuilder(ExtensionElement ee, String enclosingNamespace) {
         this(enclosingNamespace);
-        String namespace = ee.getNamespace();
         prelude(ee);
     }