diff --git a/libraries/chain/controller.cpp b/libraries/chain/controller.cpp
index 2d9be5aeb8..3aabb50115 100644
--- a/libraries/chain/controller.cpp
+++ b/libraries/chain/controller.cpp
@@ -5244,8 +5244,6 @@ transaction_trace_ptr controller::start_block( block_timestamp_type when,
 }
 
 void controller::assemble_and_complete_block( block_report& br, const signer_callback_type& signer_callback ) {
-   fc::time_point start_time = fc::time_point::now(); // want to report total time of producing a block
-
    validate_db_available_size();
 
    my->assemble_block(false, {}, nullptr);
@@ -5259,7 +5257,6 @@ void controller::assemble_and_complete_block( block_report& br, const signer_cal
       valid_block_signing_authority);
 
    br = my->pending->_block_report;
-   br.start_time = start_time;
 }
 
 void controller::commit_block(block_report& br) {