diff --git a/src/nvim/ex_docmd.c b/src/nvim/ex_docmd.c
index 0fd4ae48be..3d1136b7ac 100644
--- a/src/nvim/ex_docmd.c
+++ b/src/nvim/ex_docmd.c
@@ -1304,7 +1304,6 @@ static char_u * do_one_cmd(char_u **cmdlinep,
     /*
      * 2. Handle command modifiers.
      */
-    p = ea.cmd;
     p = skip_range(ea.cmd, NULL);
     switch (*p) {
     /* When adding an entry, also modify cmd_exists(). */