diff --git a/Modules/_json.c b/Modules/_json.c
index f777de5b6d6..e49d1b2f41a 100644
--- a/Modules/_json.c
+++ b/Modules/_json.c
@@ -1126,7 +1126,6 @@ scanner_init(PyObject *self, PyObject *args, PyObject *kwds)
     PyObject *ctx;
     static char *kwlist[] = {"context", NULL};
     PyScannerObject *s;
-    _Py_identifier(strict);
 
     assert(PyScanner_Check(self));
     s = (PyScannerObject *)self;