diff --git a/Lib/socket.py b/Lib/socket.py
index 0dd8ec70e16..3016b03104d 100644
--- a/Lib/socket.py
+++ b/Lib/socket.py
@@ -104,8 +104,6 @@ def _intenum_converter(value, enum_klass):
     except ValueError:
         return value
 
-_realsocket = socket
-
 # WSA error codes
 if sys.platform.lower().startswith("win"):
     errorTab = {}