diff --git a/python/google/protobuf/internal/message_test.py b/python/google/protobuf/internal/message_test.py
index 244631112d..ebb51552c0 100755
--- a/python/google/protobuf/internal/message_test.py
+++ b/python/google/protobuf/internal/message_test.py
@@ -2583,10 +2583,6 @@ class Proto3Test(unittest.TestCase):
     msg = map_unittest_pb2.TestMap()
     msg.map_int32_all_types[2].optional_string = 'bar'
 
-    if api_implementation.Type() == 'cpp':
-      # Need to keep the map reference because of b/27942626.
-      # TODO: Remove it.
-      unused_map = msg.map_int32_all_types  # pylint: disable=unused-variable
     msg_value = msg.map_int32_all_types[2]
     msg.Clear()