diff --git a/src/mesh_marc.f90 b/src/mesh_marc.f90
index c793dc7eb..0e0336f99 100644
--- a/src/mesh_marc.f90
+++ b/src/mesh_marc.f90
@@ -53,8 +53,6 @@ module mesh
 
  logical, dimension(3), public, protected :: mesh_periodicSurface                                   !< flag indicating periodic outer surfaces (used for fluxes)
 
- integer(pInt), private :: &
-   mesh_Nmaterials
 
 integer(pInt), dimension(:,:), allocatable, private :: &
    mesh_cellnodeParent                                                                              !< cellnode's parent element ID, cellnode's intra-element ID