diff --git a/activemodel/test/cases/serializers/xml_serialization_test.rb b/activemodel/test/cases/serializers/xml_serialization_test.rb
index c4cfb0c255..11ee17bb27 100644
--- a/activemodel/test/cases/serializers/xml_serialization_test.rb
+++ b/activemodel/test/cases/serializers/xml_serialization_test.rb
@@ -53,8 +53,7 @@ def setup
     @contact.address.city = "Springfield"
     @contact.address.apt_number = 35
     @contact.friends = [Contact.new, Contact.new]
-    @related_contact = SerializableContact.new
-    @contact.contact = @related_contact
+    @contact.contact = SerializableContact.new
   end
 
   test "should serialize default root" do