diff --git a/lisp/ob.el b/lisp/ob.el
index 671fef3ad..7207a10f0 100644
--- a/lisp/ob.el
+++ b/lisp/ob.el
@@ -412,15 +412,13 @@ block."
 			     (list (list result)) result))
 		       (funcall cmd body params)))
 		;; if non-empty result and :file then write to :file
-		(flet ((echo-res (result)
-                         (if (stringp result) result (format "%S" result))))
-		  (when (cdr (assoc :file params))
-		    (when result
-		      (with-temp-file (cdr (assoc :file params))
-			(insert
-			 (org-babel-format-result
-			  result (cdr (assoc :sep (nth 2 info)))))))
-		    (setq result (cdr (assoc :file params)))))
+		(when (cdr (assoc :file params))
+		  (when result
+		    (with-temp-file (cdr (assoc :file params))
+		      (insert
+		       (org-babel-format-result
+			result (cdr (assoc :sep (nth 2 info)))))))
+		  (setq result (cdr (assoc :file params))))
 		(org-babel-insert-result
 		 result result-params info new-hash indent lang)
 		(run-hooks 'org-babel-after-execute-hook)