diff --git a/functions b/functions
index c7e3289..4abc96f 100755
--- a/functions
+++ b/functions
@@ -130,7 +130,6 @@ service_start() {
 
   dokku_log_info2_quiet "Starting container"
   local PREVIOUS_ID=$(docker ps -f status=exited --no-trunc | grep -e "$SERVICE_NAME$" | awk '{print $1}') || true
-  local IMAGE_EXISTS=$(docker images | grep -e "^$PLUGIN_IMAGE " | grep -q " $PLUGIN_IMAGE_VERSION " && true)
   local PASSWORD="$(cat "$SERVICE_ROOT/PASSWORD")"
 
   if [[ -n $PREVIOUS_ID ]]; then