diff --git a/configure b/configure
index 133a5757ef..12d4e4ebfa 100755
--- a/configure
+++ b/configure
@@ -4229,7 +4229,6 @@ EOF
 fi
 
 # check for smartcard support
-smartcard_cflags=""
 if test "$smartcard" != "no"; then
     if $pkg_config libcacard; then
         libcacard_cflags=$($pkg_config --cflags libcacard)