diff --git a/binutils/ar.c b/binutils/ar.c
index b27ac7bacf..4a033a0f1e 100644
--- a/binutils/ar.c
+++ b/binutils/ar.c
@@ -190,7 +190,6 @@ main(argc, argv)
   int		 show_version;
 
   bfd_init();
-  verbose = 1;
   show_version = 0;
 #ifdef GNU960
   check_v960( argc, argv );