diff --git a/src/wp-includes/meta.php b/src/wp-includes/meta.php
index c3b2d0ebe6..f3415ad663 100644
--- a/src/wp-includes/meta.php
+++ b/src/wp-includes/meta.php
@@ -1381,7 +1381,6 @@ class WP_Meta_Query {
 		$clause['alias'] = $alias;
 
 		// Next, build the WHERE clause.
-		$where = '';
 
 		// meta_key.
 		if ( array_key_exists( 'key', $clause ) ) {