diff --git a/notebook/services/kernelspecs/handlers.py b/notebook/services/kernelspecs/handlers.py
index 62a0df619..a01d307fb 100644
--- a/notebook/services/kernelspecs/handlers.py
+++ b/notebook/services/kernelspecs/handlers.py
@@ -27,7 +27,6 @@ def kernelspec_model(handler, name, spec_dict, resource_dir):
     }
 
     # Add resource files if they exist
-    resource_dir = resource_dir
     for resource in ['kernel.js', 'kernel.css']:
         if os.path.exists(pjoin(resource_dir, resource)):
             d['resources'][resource] = url_path_join(