diff --git a/src/libespeak-ng/dictionary.c b/src/libespeak-ng/dictionary.c
index fbb6ab71..eb4c63ad 100644
--- a/src/libespeak-ng/dictionary.c
+++ b/src/libespeak-ng/dictionary.c
@@ -503,7 +503,7 @@ char *WritePhMnemonic(char *phon_out, PHONEME_TAB *ph, PHONEME_LIST *plist, int
 
 	first = true;
 	for (mnem = ph->mnemonic; (c = mnem & 0xff) != 0; mnem = mnem >> 8) {
-		if ((c == '/') && (option_phoneme_variants == 0))
+		if (c == '/') // NOTE: this line used to be (c == '/') && (option_phoneme_variants == 0)) but always evaluated true
 			break; // discard phoneme variant indicator
 
 		if (use_ipa) {
diff --git a/src/libespeak-ng/translate.c b/src/libespeak-ng/translate.c
index ec3a2b2c..329e8425 100644
--- a/src/libespeak-ng/translate.c
+++ b/src/libespeak-ng/translate.c
@@ -60,7 +60,6 @@ static int option_sayas2 = 0; // used in translate_clause()
 static int option_emphasis = 0; // 0=normal, 1=normal, 2=weak, 3=moderate, 4=strong
 int option_ssml = 0;
 int option_phoneme_input = 0; // allow [[phonemes]] in input
-int option_phoneme_variants = 0; // 0= don't display phoneme variant mnemonics
 int option_wordgap = 0;
 
 static int count_sayas_digits;
diff --git a/src/libespeak-ng/translate.h b/src/libespeak-ng/translate.h
index 0f471537..28206cb1 100644
--- a/src/libespeak-ng/translate.h
+++ b/src/libespeak-ng/translate.h
@@ -650,7 +650,6 @@ extern int option_punctuation;
 extern int option_endpause;
 extern int option_ssml;
 extern int option_phoneme_input;   // allow [[phonemes]] in input text
-extern int option_phoneme_variants;
 extern int option_sayas;
 extern int option_wordgap;