diff --git a/include/mdbtools.h b/include/mdbtools.h
index 648d54f..f365575 100644
--- a/include/mdbtools.h
+++ b/include/mdbtools.h
@@ -154,9 +154,6 @@ enum {
 #define IS_JET4(mdb) (mdb->f->jet_version==MDB_VER_JET4)
 #define IS_JET3(mdb) (mdb->f->jet_version==MDB_VER_JET3)
 
-/* hash to store registered backends */
-extern GHashTable	*mdb_backends;
-
 /* forward declarations */
 typedef struct mdbindex MdbIndex;
 typedef struct mdbsargtree MdbSargNode;