diff --git a/R/utils.R b/R/utils.R
index 565ddfa8..a7908e2e 100644
--- a/R/utils.R
+++ b/R/utils.R
@@ -319,8 +319,6 @@ df_list_propagate_missing <- function(x, ..., size = NULL) {
     return(vec_unstructure(x))
   }
 
-  n <- length(x)
-
   # Propagate missings
   x <- vec_assign(x, incomplete, NA)