diff --git a/cache.h b/cache.h
index a727cb4efe..1dba405703 100644
--- a/cache.h
+++ b/cache.h
@@ -96,7 +96,6 @@ static inline unsigned int create_ce_mode(unsigned int mode)
 
 #define cache_entry_size(len) ((offsetof(struct cache_entry,name) + (len) + 8) & ~7)
 
-const char *sha1_file_directory;
 struct cache_entry **active_cache;
 unsigned int active_nr, active_alloc, active_cache_changed;
 
diff --git a/sha1_file.c b/sha1_file.c
index e6ce455ae9..f1c1c70d78 100644
--- a/sha1_file.c
+++ b/sha1_file.c
@@ -9,8 +9,6 @@
 #include <stdarg.h>
 #include "cache.h"
 
-const char *sha1_file_directory = NULL;
-
 #ifndef O_NOATIME
 #if defined(__linux__) && (defined(__i386__) || defined(__PPC__))
 #define O_NOATIME 01000000