diff --git a/vm_args.c b/vm_args.c
index 8d4042e355..458710e59e 100644
--- a/vm_args.c
+++ b/vm_args.c
@@ -245,7 +245,6 @@ args_setup_opt_parameters(struct args_info *args, int opt_max, VALUE *locals)
         i = opt_max;
     }
     else {
-        int j;
         i = args->argc;
         args->argc = 0;
 
@@ -257,11 +256,6 @@ args_setup_opt_parameters(struct args_info *args, int opt_max, VALUE *locals)
                 locals[i] = argv[args->rest_index];
             }
         }
-
-        /* initialize by nil */
-        for (j=i; j<opt_max; j++) {
-            locals[j] = Qnil;
-        }
     }
 
     return i;