diff --git a/src/com/silverwrist/venice/ui/servlet/HttpVeniceUISession.java b/src/com/silverwrist/venice/ui/servlet/HttpVeniceUISession.java
index 51c8b34..40e3df6 100644
--- a/src/com/silverwrist/venice/ui/servlet/HttpVeniceUISession.java
+++ b/src/com/silverwrist/venice/ui/servlet/HttpVeniceUISession.java
@@ -60,7 +60,6 @@ class HttpVeniceUISession implements VeniceUISession
 
       // Did the user send a Venice authentication cookie?  If so, try to use it.
       Cookie[] cookies = request.getCookies();
-      Cookie venice_cookie = null;
       for (int i=0; (venice_cookie==null) && (i<cookies.length); i++)
       { // look for a Venice authentication cookie
 	if (RequestInput.LOGIN_COOKIE.equals(cookies[i].getName()))