diff --git a/clients/desktop-shell.c b/clients/desktop-shell.c
index 2667e9bb..599295ee 100644
--- a/clients/desktop-shell.c
+++ b/clients/desktop-shell.c
@@ -591,7 +591,6 @@ panel_create(struct desktop *desktop)
 {
 	struct panel *panel;
 	struct weston_config_section *s;
-	char *clock_format_option = NULL;
 
 	panel = xzalloc(sizeof *panel);
 
@@ -611,8 +610,6 @@ panel_create(struct desktop *desktop)
 	if (panel->clock_format != CLOCK_FORMAT_NONE)
 		panel_add_clock(panel);
 
-	free (clock_format_option);
-
 	s = weston_config_get_section(desktop->config, "shell", NULL, NULL);
 	weston_config_section_get_color(s, "panel-color",
 					&panel->color, 0xaa000000);