diff --git a/cache.h b/cache.h
index 7704bc6c89..bec6db5e2e 100644
--- a/cache.h
+++ b/cache.h
@@ -747,7 +747,6 @@ extern int grafts_replace_parents;
  */
 #define GIT_REPO_VERSION 0
 #define GIT_REPO_VERSION_READ 1
-extern int repository_format_version;
 extern int repository_format_precious_objects;
 
 struct repository_format {
diff --git a/environment.c b/environment.c
index 8b8c8e8496..d9e3861fe8 100644
--- a/environment.c
+++ b/environment.c
@@ -25,7 +25,6 @@ int log_all_ref_updates = -1; /* unspecified */
 int warn_ambiguous_refs = 1;
 int warn_on_object_refname_ambiguity = 1;
 int ref_paranoia = -1;
-int repository_format_version;
 int repository_format_precious_objects;
 const char *git_commit_encoding;
 const char *git_log_output_encoding;
diff --git a/setup.c b/setup.c
index fbe7ec16dd..1314c170ab 100644
--- a/setup.c
+++ b/setup.c
@@ -428,7 +428,6 @@ static int check_repository_format_gently(const char *gitdir, int *nongit_ok)
 		die("%s", err.buf);
 	}
 
-	repository_format_version = candidate.version;
 	repository_format_precious_objects = candidate.precious_objects;
 	string_list_clear(&candidate.unknown_extensions, 0);
 	if (!has_common) {