diff --git a/zerver/lib/actions.py b/zerver/lib/actions.py
index 686afd9660..4cb22c896a 100644
--- a/zerver/lib/actions.py
+++ b/zerver/lib/actions.py
@@ -1950,7 +1950,7 @@ def _internal_prep_message(realm: Realm,
         raise RuntimeError("None is not a valid realm for internal_prep_message!")
 
     if addressee.is_stream():
-        stream = ensure_stream(realm, addressee.stream_name())
+        ensure_stream(realm, addressee.stream_name())
 
     try:
         return check_message(sender, get_client("Internal"), addressee,
diff --git a/zerver/tests/test_subs.py b/zerver/tests/test_subs.py
index 616a7a7f67..9fe42c8a3f 100644
--- a/zerver/tests/test_subs.py
+++ b/zerver/tests/test_subs.py
@@ -849,7 +849,7 @@ class DefaultStreamTest(ZulipTestCase):
         user_profile = self.example_user('hamlet')
         do_change_is_admin(user_profile, True)
         stream_name = 'stream ADDED via api'
-        stream = ensure_stream(user_profile.realm, stream_name)
+        ensure_stream(user_profile.realm, stream_name)
         result = self.client_post('/json/default_streams', dict(stream_name=stream_name))
         self.assert_json_success(result)
         self.assertTrue(stream_name in self.get_default_stream_names(user_profile.realm))