diff --git a/libraries/GCS_MAVLink/GCS_Common.cpp b/libraries/GCS_MAVLink/GCS_Common.cpp
index 28eb2945f9..582cffb2dd 100644
--- a/libraries/GCS_MAVLink/GCS_Common.cpp
+++ b/libraries/GCS_MAVLink/GCS_Common.cpp
@@ -1249,7 +1249,6 @@ bool GCS_MAVLINK::set_ap_message_interval(enum ap_message id, uint16_t interval_
         deferred_message_bucket[empty_bucket_id].interval_ms = interval_ms;
         deferred_message_bucket[empty_bucket_id].last_sent_ms = AP_HAL::millis16();
         closest_bucket = empty_bucket_id;
-        closest_bucket_interval_delta = 0;
     }
 
     deferred_message_bucket[closest_bucket].ap_message_ids.set(id);