diff --git a/src/validation.h b/src/validation.h
--- a/src/validation.h
+++ b/src/validation.h
@@ -672,9 +672,6 @@
 bool IsBlockFinalized(const CBlockIndex *pindex)
     EXCLUSIVE_LOCKS_REQUIRED(cs_main);
 
-/** The currently-connected chain of blocks (protected by cs_main). */
-extern CChain &chainActive;
-
 /** @returns the most-work chain. */
 CChain& ChainActive();
 
diff --git a/src/validation.cpp b/src/validation.cpp
--- a/src/validation.cpp
+++ b/src/validation.cpp
@@ -249,7 +249,6 @@
 RecursiveMutex cs_main;
 
 BlockMap &mapBlockIndex = g_chainstate.mapBlockIndex;
-CChain &chainActive = g_chainstate.m_chain;
 CBlockIndex *pindexBestHeader = nullptr;
 Mutex g_best_block_mutex;
 std::condition_variable g_best_block_cv;