diff --git a/dlls/shdocvw/shdocvw.h b/dlls/shdocvw/shdocvw.h
index e741482502e..341cdc5b92b 100644
--- a/dlls/shdocvw/shdocvw.h
+++ b/dlls/shdocvw/shdocvw.h
@@ -50,8 +50,6 @@ extern LONG SHDOCVW_refCount DECLSPEC_HIDDEN;
 static inline void SHDOCVW_LockModule(void) { InterlockedIncrement( &SHDOCVW_refCount ); }
 static inline void SHDOCVW_UnlockModule(void) { InterlockedDecrement( &SHDOCVW_refCount ); }
 
-extern HINSTANCE shdocvw_hinstance DECLSPEC_HIDDEN;
-
 
 /* memory allocation functions */
 
diff --git a/dlls/shdocvw/shdocvw_main.c b/dlls/shdocvw/shdocvw_main.c
index db9034c7132..be1588cb9cc 100644
--- a/dlls/shdocvw/shdocvw_main.c
+++ b/dlls/shdocvw/shdocvw_main.c
@@ -41,7 +41,6 @@ WINE_DEFAULT_DEBUG_CHANNEL(shdocvw);
 
 LONG SHDOCVW_refCount = 0;
 
-HINSTANCE shdocvw_hinstance = 0;
 static HMODULE SHDOCVW_hshell32 = 0;
 static HINSTANCE ieframe_instance;
 
@@ -148,7 +147,6 @@ BOOL WINAPI DllMain(HINSTANCE hinst, DWORD fdwReason, LPVOID fImpLoad)
     switch (fdwReason)
     {
         case DLL_PROCESS_ATTACH:
-        shdocvw_hinstance = hinst;
         break;
     case DLL_PROCESS_DETACH:
         if (SHDOCVW_hshell32) FreeLibrary(SHDOCVW_hshell32);