diff --git a/bacnet-stack/bacdcode.c b/bacnet-stack/bacdcode.c
index 25e1d6d1..55201f04 100644
--- a/bacnet-stack/bacdcode.c
+++ b/bacnet-stack/bacdcode.c
@@ -449,7 +449,6 @@ int decode_character_string(uint8_t * apdu, char *char_string)
     int len = 0, i = 0;
     uint32_t len_value = 0;
 
-    len = decode_tag_value(&apdu[0], &len_value);
     len = decode_tag_value(&apdu[0], &len_value);
     if (len_value) {
         // decode ANSI X3.4