diff --git a/lib/private/Mail/Mailer.php b/lib/private/Mail/Mailer.php
index f95b858ee7bb7..0a5b633c52ed1 100644
--- a/lib/private/Mail/Mailer.php
+++ b/lib/private/Mail/Mailer.php
@@ -255,8 +255,6 @@ protected function getInstance(): MailerInterface {
 			return $this->instance;
 		}
 
-		$transport = null;
-
 		switch ($this->config->getSystemValueString('mail_smtpmode', 'smtp')) {
 			case 'sendmail':
 				$transport = $this->getSendMailInstance();