Index: core/src/main/scala/kafka/producer/SyncProducer.scala
===================================================================
--- core/src/main/scala/kafka/producer/SyncProducer.scala	(revision 1215021)
+++ core/src/main/scala/kafka/producer/SyncProducer.scala	(working copy)
@@ -155,7 +155,6 @@
   }
     
   private def connect(): SocketChannel = {
-    var channel: SocketChannel = null
     var connectBackoffMs = 1
     val beginTimeMs = SystemTime.milliseconds
     while(channel == null && !shutdown) {