diff --git a/py/vttest/run_local_database.py b/py/vttest/run_local_database.py
index e56e3e3b5b..de5f8ef7bf 100755
--- a/py/vttest/run_local_database.py
+++ b/py/vttest/run_local_database.py
@@ -21,7 +21,6 @@ import json
 import logging
 import optparse
 import os
-import re
 import sys
 
 from google.protobuf import text_format
@@ -33,8 +32,6 @@ from vttest import init_data_options
 
 from vtproto import vttest_pb2
 
-shard_exp = re.compile(r'(.+)/(.+):(.+)')
-
 
 def main(cmdline_options):
   topology = vttest_pb2.VTTestTopology()