diff --git a/holoviews/tests/plotting/matplotlib/test_pointplot.py b/holoviews/tests/plotting/matplotlib/test_pointplot.py
index f18358a4d2..4da89908a1 100644
--- a/holoviews/tests/plotting/matplotlib/test_pointplot.py
+++ b/holoviews/tests/plotting/matplotlib/test_pointplot.py
@@ -241,7 +241,6 @@ def test_point_categorical_color_op_legend(self):
         points = Points([(0, 0, 'A'), (0, 1, 'B'), (0, 2, 'A')],
                         vdims='color').options(color='color', show_legend=True)
         plot = mpl_renderer.get_plot(points)
-        artist = plot.handles['artist']
         leg = plot.handles['axis'].get_legend()
         legend_labels = [l.get_text() for l in leg.texts]
         self.assertEqual(legend_labels, ['A', 'B'])
@@ -250,7 +249,6 @@ def test_point_categorical_color_op_legend_with_labels(self):
         points = Points([(0, 0, 'A'), (0, 1, 'B'), (0, 2, 'A')], vdims='color').opts(
             color='color', show_legend=True, legend_labels={'A': 'A point', 'B': 'B point'})
         plot = mpl_renderer.get_plot(points)
-        artist = plot.handles['artist']
         leg = plot.handles['axis'].get_legend()
         legend_labels = [l.get_text() for l in leg.texts]
         self.assertEqual(legend_labels, ['A point', 'B point'])