diff --git a/src/core/debug.cpp b/src/core/debug.cpp
index 44bdb9f7d4a..17d0801b4e1 100644
--- a/src/core/debug.cpp
+++ b/src/core/debug.cpp
@@ -37,8 +37,6 @@
 #include "grid.hpp"
 #include "integrate.hpp"
 
-int regular_exit = 1;
-
 void check_particle_consistency() {
   int n, c;
   int cell_part_cnt = 0, ghost_part_cnt = 0, local_part_cnt = 0;
diff --git a/src/core/debug.hpp b/src/core/debug.hpp
index a6a2fef9827..b0b6ff269c8 100644
--- a/src/core/debug.hpp
+++ b/src/core/debug.hpp
@@ -47,8 +47,3 @@ void print_particle_positions();
 void print_particle_forces();
 
 extern int this_node;
-
-/** by setting this variable to 1, a regular exit is
- *  indicated. In that case, no core dump is generated.
- */
-extern int regular_exit;