diff --git a/src/balance.cpp b/src/balance.cpp
index c184a72d32..8f994466ad 100644
--- a/src/balance.cpp
+++ b/src/balance.cpp
@@ -782,7 +782,7 @@ void Balance::shift_setup(char *str, int nitermax_in, double thresh_in)
 
 int Balance::shift()
 {
-  int i,j,k,m,np,max;
+  int i,j,k,m,np;
   double mycost,totalcost;
   double *split;