diff --git a/activerecord/lib/active_record/counter_cache.rb b/activerecord/lib/active_record/counter_cache.rb
index c9c46b8d4f..ee0b0c7fab 100644
--- a/activerecord/lib/active_record/counter_cache.rb
+++ b/activerecord/lib/active_record/counter_cache.rb
@@ -19,7 +19,7 @@ module ActiveRecord
       counters.each do |association|
         has_many_association = reflect_on_association(association.to_sym)
 
-        expected_name = if has_many_association.options[:as]
+        if has_many_association.options[:as]
           has_many_association.options[:as].to_s.classify
         else
           self.name