diff --git a/src/goto-programs/string_abstraction.cpp b/src/goto-programs/string_abstraction.cpp
index f806d403177..dd3ecbfc1ef 100644
--- a/src/goto-programs/string_abstraction.cpp
+++ b/src/goto-programs/string_abstraction.cpp
@@ -469,7 +469,7 @@ goto_programt::targett string_abstractiont::abstract(
     break;
 
   case FUNCTION_CALL:
-    abstract_function_call(dest, it);
+    abstract_function_call(it);
     break;
 
   case RETURN:
@@ -528,7 +528,6 @@ goto_programt::targett string_abstractiont::abstract_assign(
 }
 
 void string_abstractiont::abstract_function_call(
-  goto_programt &dest,
   goto_programt::targett target)
 {
   code_function_callt &call=to_code_function_call(target->code);
diff --git a/src/goto-programs/string_abstraction.h b/src/goto-programs/string_abstraction.h
index 8e5ddef9554..c79ec5154fe 100644
--- a/src/goto-programs/string_abstraction.h
+++ b/src/goto-programs/string_abstraction.h
@@ -87,7 +87,7 @@ class string_abstractiont:public messaget
     const exprt &lhs,
     const exprt &rhs);
 
-  void abstract_function_call(goto_programt &dest, goto_programt::targett it);
+  void abstract_function_call(goto_programt::targett it);
 
   goto_programt::targett value_assignments(goto_programt &dest,
       goto_programt::targett it,