diff --git a/lib/ansible/inventory/data.py b/lib/ansible/inventory/data.py
index e7674eb7dbb..04308a0ed91 100644
--- a/lib/ansible/inventory/data.py
+++ b/lib/ansible/inventory/data.py
@@ -97,7 +97,6 @@ class InventoryData(object):
                                 'You can correct this by setting ansible_python_interpreter for localhost')
             new_host.set_variable("ansible_python_interpreter", py_interp)
             new_host.set_variable("ansible_connection", 'local')
-            new_host.set_variable("ansible_remote_tmp", C.DEFAULT_LOCAL_TMP)
 
             self.localhost = new_host