diff --git a/synapse/storage/_base.py b/synapse/storage/_base.py
index aae3a24b77..32c6677d47 100644
--- a/synapse/storage/_base.py
+++ b/synapse/storage/_base.py
@@ -154,7 +154,6 @@ class SQLBaseStore(object):
         self.hs = hs
         self._clock = hs.get_clock()
         self._db_pool = hs.get_db_pool()
-        self._clock = hs.get_clock()
 
         self._previous_txn_total_time = 0
         self._current_txn_total_time = 0