diff --git a/Python/marshal.c b/Python/marshal.c
index 73d4f37..f66b765 100644
--- a/Python/marshal.c
+++ b/Python/marshal.c
@@ -60,7 +60,6 @@
     PyObject *str;
     char *ptr;
     char *end;
-    PyObject *strings; /* dict on marshal, list on unmarshal */
     int version;
 } WFILE;
 
@@ -444,7 +443,6 @@
     wf.fp = fp;
     wf.error = WFERR_OK;
     wf.depth = 0;
-    wf.strings = NULL;
     wf.version = version;
     w_long(x, &wf);
 }
@@ -456,10 +454,8 @@
     wf.fp = fp;
     wf.error = WFERR_OK;
     wf.depth = 0;
-    wf.strings = (version > 0) ? PyDict_New() : NULL;
     wf.version = version;
     w_object(x, &wf);
-    Py_XDECREF(wf.strings);
 }
 
 typedef WFILE RFILE; /* Same struct with different invariants */
@@ -1041,7 +1037,6 @@
     RFILE rf;
     assert(fp);
     rf.fp = fp;
-    rf.strings = NULL;
     rf.end = rf.ptr = NULL;
     return r_short(&rf);
 }
@@ -1051,7 +1046,6 @@
 {
     RFILE rf;
     rf.fp = fp;
-    rf.strings = NULL;
     rf.ptr = rf.end = NULL;
     return r_long(&rf);
 }
@@ -1112,11 +1106,9 @@
     RFILE rf;
     PyObject *result;
     rf.fp = fp;
-    rf.strings = PyList_New(0);
     rf.depth = 0;
     rf.ptr = rf.end = NULL;
     result = r_object(&rf);
-    Py_DECREF(rf.strings);
     return result;
 }
 
@@ -1128,10 +1120,8 @@
     rf.fp = NULL;
     rf.ptr = str;
     rf.end = str + len;
-    rf.strings = PyList_New(0);
     rf.depth = 0;
     result = r_object(&rf);
-    Py_DECREF(rf.strings);
     return result;
 }
 
@@ -1150,9 +1140,7 @@
     wf.error = WFERR_OK;
     wf.depth = 0;
     wf.version = version;
-    wf.strings = (version > 0) ? PyDict_New() : NULL;
     w_object(x, &wf);
-    Py_XDECREF(wf.strings);
     if (wf.str != NULL) {
         char *base = PyBytes_AS_STRING((PyBytesObject *)wf.str);
         if (wf.ptr - base > PY_SSIZE_T_MAX) {
@@ -1242,10 +1230,8 @@
         Py_DECREF(data);
         return NULL;
     }
-    rf.strings = PyList_New(0);
     rf.depth = 0;
     result = read_object(&rf);
-    Py_DECREF(rf.strings);
     Py_DECREF(data);
     return result;
 }
@@ -1298,10 +1284,8 @@
     rf.fp = NULL;
     rf.ptr = s;
     rf.end = s + n;
-    rf.strings = PyList_New(0);
     rf.depth = 0;
     result = read_object(&rf);
-    Py_DECREF(rf.strings);
     PyBuffer_Release(&p);
     return result;
 }