diff --git a/include/mapnik/util/geometry_to_wkb.hpp b/include/mapnik/util/geometry_to_wkb.hpp
index 942254483..ef7f0784c 100644
--- a/include/mapnik/util/geometry_to_wkb.hpp
+++ b/include/mapnik/util/geometry_to_wkb.hpp
@@ -172,8 +172,6 @@ wkb_buffer_ptr to_polygon_wkb( GeometryType const& g, wkbByteOrder byte_order)
 
     double x = 0;
     double y = 0;
-    double start_x = 0;
-    double start_y = 0;
     std::size_t size = 1 + 4 + 4 ; // byteOrder + wkbType + numRings
     for (unsigned i=0; i< num_points; ++i)
     {