diff --git a/Lib/distutils/command/build_scripts.py b/Lib/distutils/command/build_scripts.py
index 611767e7bc3..16024e5fed1 100644
--- a/Lib/distutils/command/build_scripts.py
+++ b/Lib/distutils/command/build_scripts.py
@@ -51,7 +51,6 @@ class build_scripts (Command):
         ie. starts with "\#!" and contains "python"), then adjust the first
         line to refer to the current Python interpreter as we copy.
         """
-        outfiles = []
         self.mkpath(self.build_dir)
         for script in self.scripts:
             adjust = 0