diff --git a/libraries/entities/src/UpdateEntityOperator.cpp b/libraries/entities/src/UpdateEntityOperator.cpp
index 2b5a54647d..9cee11d73c 100644
--- a/libraries/entities/src/UpdateEntityOperator.cpp
+++ b/libraries/entities/src/UpdateEntityOperator.cpp
@@ -299,14 +299,14 @@ bool UpdateEntityOperator::preRecursion(OctreeElement* element) {
                 }
 
                 // set the entity properties and mark our element as changed.
-                bool somethingChanged = _existingEntity->setProperties(_properties);
+                _existingEntity->setProperties(_properties);
                 if (_wantDebug) {
                     qDebug() << "    *** set properties ***";
                 }
             } else {
                 // otherwise, this is an add case.
                 entityTreeElement->addEntityItem(_existingEntity);
-                bool somethingChanged = _existingEntity->setProperties(_properties); // still need to update the properties!
+                _existingEntity->setProperties(_properties); // still need to update the properties!
                 _tree->setContainingElement(_entityItemID, entityTreeElement);
                 if (_wantDebug) {
                     qDebug() << "    *** ADDING ENTITY to ELEMENT and MAP and SETTING PROPERTIES ***";