diff --git a/src/sage/matroids/chow_ring.py b/src/sage/matroids/chow_ring.py
index a404e32cf90..173c8db7f84 100644
--- a/src/sage/matroids/chow_ring.py
+++ b/src/sage/matroids/chow_ring.py
@@ -148,8 +148,7 @@ def matroid(self):
             U(3, 6): Matroid of rank 3 on 6 elements with circuit-closures
             {3: {{0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5}}}
         """
-        M = self._matroid
-        return M
+        return self._matroid
 
     def _coerce_map_from_base_ring(self):
         r"""
diff --git a/src/sage/matroids/chow_ring_ideal.py b/src/sage/matroids/chow_ring_ideal.py
index 4d62ed233ab..53bdfedd246 100644
--- a/src/sage/matroids/chow_ring_ideal.py
+++ b/src/sage/matroids/chow_ring_ideal.py
@@ -25,8 +25,7 @@ def matroid(self):
             U(3, 6): Matroid of rank 3 on 6 elements with circuit-closures
             {3: {{0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5}}}
         """
-        M = self._matroid
-        return M
+        return self._matroid
 
     def _lattice_flats(self):
         r"""