diff --git a/lib/net.js b/lib/net.js
index 6c475619117dc5..d3b3a18e269537 100644
--- a/lib/net.js
+++ b/lib/net.js
@@ -1416,8 +1416,7 @@ Server.prototype.listen = function(...args) {
     throw new ERR_SERVER_ALREADY_LISTEN();
   }
 
-  var hasCallback = (cb !== null);
-  if (hasCallback) {
+  if (cb !== null) {
     this.once('listening', cb);
   }
   var backlogFromArgs =