diff --git a/rest_framework/serializers.py b/rest_framework/serializers.py
index 03ac78bea..131aeed31 100644
--- a/rest_framework/serializers.py
+++ b/rest_framework/serializers.py
@@ -930,7 +930,6 @@ class ModelSerializer(Serializer):
         Restore the model instance.
         """
         m2m_data = {}
-        virtual_m2m_data = {}
         related_data = {}
         nested_forward_relations = {}
         meta = self.opts.model._meta