diff --git a/src/common/list.c b/src/common/list.c
index b93191882efcdeb1cb5e2a7655bb682b8a13efd5..69fb68f4e1ed3a1fbbbeb58eb9e9058a2fe5542e 100644
--- a/src/common/list.c
+++ b/src/common/list.c
@@ -594,7 +594,6 @@ list_sort2 (List l, ListCmpF f)
            tail->next = NULL;
            if(nmerges <= 1) {
               l->head = head;
-              l->tail = &tail;
               for (it=l->iNext; it; it=it->iNext) {
                   assert(it->magic == LIST_MAGIC);
                   it->pos = it->list->head;