diff --git a/lib/core.js b/lib/core.js
index 7ff3630c..edc1af16 100644
--- a/lib/core.js
+++ b/lib/core.js
@@ -2,7 +2,6 @@ var absURLRegEx = /^[^\/]+:\/\//;
 
 // caches baseURL URL object
 // also allows baseURL to be relative to the baseURI
-var baseURI;
 function getAbsBaseURL() {
   var baseURL = this.baseURL;
   return baseURLCache[baseURL] = baseURLCache[baseURL] || new URL(baseURL + (baseURL[baseURL.length - 1] != '/' ? '/' : ''), baseURI);
@@ -14,9 +13,6 @@ hookConstructor(function(constructor) {
   return function() {
     constructor.call(this);
 
-    // by default ModuleLoader sets this.baseURL to baseURI
-    baseURI = this.baseURL;
-
     // support the empty module, as a concept
     this.set('@empty', this.newModule({}));
   };