diff --git a/lib/response.js b/lib/response.js
index 79deb04..0cd29cb 100644
--- a/lib/response.js
+++ b/lib/response.js
@@ -77,8 +77,8 @@ module.exports = {
       val = n;
     }
 
-    var status = this._status = this.res.statusCode = val;
-    var noContent = 304 == status || 204 == status;
+    this._status = this.res.statusCode = val;
+    var noContent = 304 == val || 204 == val;
     if (noContent && this.body) this.body = null;
   },