diff --git a/src/sage/matrix/matrix_cdv.pyx b/src/sage/matrix/matrix_cdv.pyx
index 0384b29bcb5..a964b242c0f 100644
--- a/src/sage/matrix/matrix_cdv.pyx
+++ b/src/sage/matrix/matrix_cdv.pyx
@@ -61,8 +61,7 @@ cpdef hessenbergize_cdvf(Matrix_generic_dense H):
         x^3 + (1 + 4*t + 4*t^2 + O(t^3))*x^2 + (t + 2*t^2 + O(t^3))*x + 3 + 2*t^2 + O(t^3)
     """
     cdef Py_ssize_t n, i, j, k
-    cdef Matrix_generic_dense c
-    cdef RingElement pivot, inv, scalar
+    cdef RingElement entry, pivot, inv, scalar
 
     n = H.nrows()
     for j in range(n-1):