diff --git a/src/JwtAuthentication.php b/src/JwtAuthentication.php
index 382d52a..5f66163 100644
--- a/src/JwtAuthentication.php
+++ b/src/JwtAuthentication.php
@@ -167,7 +167,6 @@ public function process(ServerRequestInterface $request, RequestHandlerInterface
 
         /* Modify $request before calling next middleware. */
         if (is_callable($this->options["before"])) {
-            $response = (new ResponseFactory)->createResponse(200);
             $beforeRequest = $this->options["before"]($request, $params);
             if ($beforeRequest instanceof ServerRequestInterface) {
                 $request = $beforeRequest;