diff --git a/lib/pagelib.php b/lib/pagelib.php
index 59a6d1a947c..3aae32fd3e2 100644
--- a/lib/pagelib.php
+++ b/lib/pagelib.php
@@ -803,7 +803,6 @@ class moodle_page {
      * @return renderer_base
      */
     public function get_renderer($component, $subtype = null, $target = null) {
-        $target = null;
         if ($this->pagelayout === 'maintenance') {
             // If the page is using the maintenance layout then we're going to force target to maintenance.
             // This leads to a special core renderer that is designed to block access to API's that are likely unavailable for this