diff --git a/lib/rexml/source.rb b/lib/rexml/source.rb
index 999751b4..0f3c5011 100644
--- a/lib/rexml/source.rb
+++ b/lib/rexml/source.rb
@@ -174,7 +174,6 @@ def read(term = nil)
 
     def read_until(term)
       pattern = Regexp.union(term)
-      data = []
       begin
         until str = @scanner.scan_until(pattern)
           @scanner << readline(term)