diff --git a/gtk/gtktypeutils.c b/gtk/gtktypeutils.c
index 33b73b83bc..12b93f91e9 100644
--- a/gtk/gtktypeutils.c
+++ b/gtk/gtktypeutils.c
@@ -117,7 +117,6 @@ GType GTK_TYPE_IDENTIFIER = 0;
 #else
 #define IMPORT
 #endif
-extern IMPORT gboolean glib_debug_objects;
 
 #include <gtk.h>	/* for gtktypebuiltins_ids.c */
 #include <gdk.h>	/* gtktypebuiltins_ids.c */
@@ -152,8 +151,6 @@ gtk_type_init (GTypeDebugFlags debug_flags)
 
       initialized = TRUE;
 
-      glib_debug_objects = (gtk_debug_flags & GTK_DEBUG_OBJECTS) != 0;
-      
       /* initialize GLib type system
        */
       g_type_init (debug_flags);