diff --git a/cogl/cogl-material.c b/cogl/cogl-material.c
index 7e6e2e9c5..99e09a293 100644
--- a/cogl/cogl-material.c
+++ b/cogl/cogl-material.c
@@ -7165,7 +7165,7 @@ void
 _cogl_material_journal_unref (CoglHandle material_handle)
 {
   CoglMaterial *material =
-    material = _cogl_material_pointer_from_handle (material_handle);
+    _cogl_material_pointer_from_handle (material_handle);
   material->journal_ref_count--;
   cogl_handle_unref (material_handle);
 }