diff --git a/neutron/services/loadbalancer/drivers/haproxy/agent_manager.py b/neutron/services/loadbalancer/drivers/haproxy/agent_manager.py
index 6d9cb1be5..e5074cf92 100644
--- a/neutron/services/loadbalancer/drivers/haproxy/agent_manager.py
+++ b/neutron/services/loadbalancer/drivers/haproxy/agent_manager.py
@@ -124,10 +124,8 @@ class LbaasAgentManager(periodic_task.PeriodicTasks):
         try:
             vif_driver = importutils.import_object(conf.interface_driver, conf)
         except ImportError:
-            # the driver is optional
             msg = _('Error importing interface driver: %s')
             raise SystemExit(msg % conf.interface_driver)
-            vif_driver = None
 
         try:
             self.driver = importutils.import_object(