diff --git a/network/follow.go b/network/follow.go
index 2300f06befcbb7315874b9ac10735722038c45d5..869dd5cdb21aee3f59125006f1feed9371132e5f 100644
--- a/network/follow.go
+++ b/network/follow.go
@@ -67,8 +67,6 @@ func (m *manager) followNetwork(quitCh <-chan struct{}) {
 	}
 }
 
-var followCnt = 0
-
 // executes each iteration of the follower
 func (m *manager) follow(rng csprng.Source, comms followNetworkComms) {