diff --git a/programs/cleos/main.cpp b/programs/cleos/main.cpp
index 20a0823d86e..b46ca627c66 100644
--- a/programs/cleos/main.cpp
+++ b/programs/cleos/main.cpp
@@ -568,11 +568,6 @@ chain::action create_transfer(const string& contract, const name& sender, const
       ("quantity", amount)
       ("memo", memo);
 
-   auto args = fc::mutable_variant_object
-      ("code", contract)
-      ("action", "transfer")
-      ("args", transfer);
-
    return action {
       tx_permission.empty() ? vector<chain::permission_level>{{sender,config::active_name}} : get_account_permissions(tx_permission),
       contract, "transfer", variant_to_bin( contract, N(transfer), transfer )