diff --git a/roles/remove-node/pre-remove/tasks/main.yml b/roles/remove-node/pre-remove/tasks/main.yml
index d52293546..18e5ddee0 100644
--- a/roles/remove-node/pre-remove/tasks/main.yml
+++ b/roles/remove-node/pre-remove/tasks/main.yml
@@ -1,8 +1,4 @@
 ---
-- name: remove-node | Set `nodes_to_drain` as empty list
-  set_fact:
-    nodes_to_drain: []
-
 - name: remove-node | List nodes
   command: kubectl get nodes -o go-template={% raw %}'{{ range .items }}{{ .metadata.name }}{{ "\n" }}{{ end }}'{% endraw %}
   register: nodes