diff --git a/GPy/core/sparse_gp.py b/GPy/core/sparse_gp.py
index 15a4e1f8..751a295d 100644
--- a/GPy/core/sparse_gp.py
+++ b/GPy/core/sparse_gp.py
@@ -31,7 +31,7 @@ class SparseGP(GP):
 
     """
 
-    def __init__(self, X, Y, Z, kernel, likelihood, inference_method=None, X_variance=None, name='sparse gp'):
+    def __init__(self, X, Y, Z, kernel, likelihood, inference_method=None, name='sparse gp'):
 
         #pick a sensible inference method
         if inference_method is None: