diff --git a/lib/swig.js b/lib/swig.js
index c1d93a56..a24a915f 100644
--- a/lib/swig.js
+++ b/lib/swig.js
@@ -183,7 +183,6 @@ exports.compileFile = function (filepath, forceAllowErrors) {
 };
 
 exports.compile = function (source, options) {
-  options = options || {};
   var tmpl = getTemplate(source, options || {});
 
   return function (source, options) {