diff --git a/orte/runtime/orte_globals.c b/orte/runtime/orte_globals.c
index e8c8d07efa..c29a0432ef 100644
--- a/orte/runtime/orte_globals.c
+++ b/orte/runtime/orte_globals.c
@@ -196,7 +196,6 @@ int orte_max_vm_size = -1;
 /* progress thread */
 #if ORTE_ENABLE_PROGRESS_THREADS
 opal_thread_t orte_progress_thread;
-opal_event_t orte_finalize_event;
 #endif
 
 /* global nidmap/pidmap for daemons to give to apps */
diff --git a/orte/runtime/orte_globals.h b/orte/runtime/orte_globals.h
index 3e31c3dd13..25f557d943 100644
--- a/orte/runtime/orte_globals.h
+++ b/orte/runtime/orte_globals.h
@@ -142,7 +142,6 @@ typedef struct orte_app_context_t orte_app_context_t;
 
 #if ORTE_ENABLE_PROGRESS_THREADS
 ORTE_DECLSPEC extern opal_thread_t orte_progress_thread;
-ORTE_DECLSPEC extern opal_event_t orte_finalize_event;
 #endif
 
 #define ORTE_GLOBAL_ARRAY_BLOCK_SIZE    64