diff --git a/src/sortedcontainers/sortedset.py b/src/sortedcontainers/sortedset.py
index f2416bf..66b391d 100644
--- a/src/sortedcontainers/sortedset.py
+++ b/src/sortedcontainers/sortedset.py
@@ -391,9 +391,8 @@ def discard(self, value):
         :param value: `value` to discard from sorted set
 
         """
-        _set = self._set
-        if value in _set:
-            _set.remove(value)
+        if value in self._set:
+            self._set.remove(value)
             self._list.remove(value)
 
     _discard = discard