diff --git a/lib/routes/db.js b/lib/routes/db.js
index 240f496..1b6f6de 100644
--- a/lib/routes/db.js
+++ b/lib/routes/db.js
@@ -95,7 +95,6 @@ module.exports = function(app, PouchDB) {
         ? req.query.heartbeat : 6000;
       var written = false;
       heartbeatInterval = setInterval(function () {
-        written = true;
         res.write('\n');
       }, heartbeat);