diff --git a/spring-beans/src/main/java/org/springframework/beans/factory/support/AbstractBeanFactory.java b/spring-beans/src/main/java/org/springframework/beans/factory/support/AbstractBeanFactory.java
index 29fe3a8c464..c8305b30cfb 100644
--- a/spring-beans/src/main/java/org/springframework/beans/factory/support/AbstractBeanFactory.java
+++ b/spring-beans/src/main/java/org/springframework/beans/factory/support/AbstractBeanFactory.java
@@ -1317,7 +1317,6 @@ public abstract class AbstractBeanFactory extends FactoryBeanRegistrySupport imp
 
 			if (mbd == null || mbd.stale) {
 				previous = mbd;
-				mbd = null;
 				if (bd.getParentName() == null) {
 					// Use copy of given root bean definition.
 					if (bd instanceof RootBeanDefinition) {