diff --git a/builtin/branch.c b/builtin/branch.c
index f875952e7b..55cd9a6e99 100644
--- a/builtin/branch.c
+++ b/builtin/branch.c
@@ -204,7 +204,6 @@ static void delete_branch_config(const char *branchname)
 static int delete_branches(int argc, const char **argv, int force, int kinds,
 			   int quiet)
 {
-	struct worktree **worktrees;
 	struct commit *head_rev = NULL;
 	struct object_id oid;
 	char *name = NULL;
@@ -242,8 +241,6 @@ static int delete_branches(int argc, const char **argv, int force, int kinds,
 			die(_("Couldn't look up commit object for HEAD"));
 	}
 
-	worktrees = get_worktrees();
-
 	for (i = 0; i < argc; i++, strbuf_reset(&bname)) {
 		char *target = NULL;
 		int flags = 0;
@@ -314,7 +311,6 @@ static int delete_branches(int argc, const char **argv, int force, int kinds,
 
 	free(name);
 	strbuf_release(&bname);
-	free_worktrees(worktrees);
 
 	return ret;
 }