diff --git a/sys/netpfil/pf/pf_ioctl.c b/sys/netpfil/pf/pf_ioctl.c
index 22adc141846d..a8f9261111db 100644
--- a/sys/netpfil/pf/pf_ioctl.c
+++ b/sys/netpfil/pf/pf_ioctl.c
@@ -2720,8 +2720,6 @@ DIOCGETETHRULES_error:
 		free(nvlpacked, M_TEMP);
 		nvlpacked = NULL;
 
-		nvl = nvlist_create(0);
-
 		rule = TAILQ_FIRST(rs->active.rules);
 		while ((rule != NULL) && (rule->nr != nr))
 			rule = TAILQ_NEXT(rule, entries);