diff --git a/dill/_dill.py b/dill/_dill.py
index 5b599b30..702069d0 100644
--- a/dill/_dill.py
+++ b/dill/_dill.py
@@ -1935,7 +1935,6 @@ def save_function(pickler, obj):
     if not _locate_function(obj, pickler):
         log.info("F1: %s" % obj)
         _recurse = getattr(pickler, '_recurse', None)
-        _byref = getattr(pickler, '_byref', None)
         _postproc = getattr(pickler, '_postproc', None)
         _main_modified = getattr(pickler, '_main_modified', None)
         _original_main = getattr(pickler, '_original_main', __builtin__)#'None'