diff --git a/bottle.py b/bottle.py
index 38a9732f2..5c273e035 100755
--- a/bottle.py
+++ b/bottle.py
@@ -941,7 +941,6 @@ def _handle(self, environ):
             try:
                 self.trigger_hook('before_request')
                 route, args = self.router.match(environ)
-                environ['route.handle'] = route
                 environ['bottle.route'] = route
                 environ['route.url_args'] = args
                 out = route.call(**args)