diff --git a/dhall/src/Dhall/Parser/Expression.hs b/dhall/src/Dhall/Parser/Expression.hs
index e6dcc83c6..ddd64c759 100644
--- a/dhall/src/Dhall/Parser/Expression.hs
+++ b/dhall/src/Dhall/Parser/Expression.hs
@@ -1066,8 +1066,6 @@ parsers embedded = Parsers{..}
             let emptyUnionType = do
                     try (optional (_bar *> whitespace) *> _closeAngle)
 
-                    _ <- optional (_bar *> whitespace)
-
                     return (Union mempty)
 
             nonEmptyUnionType <|> emptyUnionType ) <?> "literal"