diff --git a/pppd/sys-linux.c b/pppd/sys-linux.c
index c0955a05..b4972317 100644
--- a/pppd/sys-linux.c
+++ b/pppd/sys-linux.c
@@ -2279,8 +2279,6 @@ int cifdefaultroute (int unit, u_int32_t ouraddr, u_int32_t gateway)
     SET_SA_FAMILY (rt.rt_dst,     AF_INET);
     SET_SA_FAMILY (rt.rt_gateway, AF_INET);
 
-    rt.rt_dev = ifname;
-
     rt.rt_dev = ifname;
     rt.rt_metric = dfl_route_metric + 1; /* +1 for binary compatibility */