diff --git a/src/branch_tier.cpp b/src/branch_tier.cpp
index fa0390ec..eda45c3d 100644
--- a/src/branch_tier.cpp
+++ b/src/branch_tier.cpp
@@ -57,7 +57,6 @@ BranchTier::BranchTier(BranchTier &bt_)
   Branch2 b;
   Branch2 c;
 
-  b = c;  
 
 }