diff --git a/databroker/mongo_normalized.py b/databroker/mongo_normalized.py
index 44585265e..26c3ece19 100644
--- a/databroker/mongo_normalized.py
+++ b/databroker/mongo_normalized.py
@@ -2225,7 +2225,6 @@ def default_validate_shape(key, data, expected_shape):
         )
     # Pad at the "end" along any dimension that is too short.
     padding = []
-    trimming = []
     for actual, expected in zip(data.shape, expected_shape):
         margin = expected - actual
         # Limit how much padding or trimming we are willing to do.
diff --git a/databroker/tests/test_validate_shape.py b/databroker/tests/test_validate_shape.py
index 0a31e2368..df563e384 100644
--- a/databroker/tests/test_validate_shape.py
+++ b/databroker/tests/test_validate_shape.py
@@ -73,8 +73,8 @@ def post_document(name, doc):
     [
         ((10,), (11, 12)),
         ((10, 20), (10, 200)),
-        ( (20,20,20,20), (20,21,20,200) ),
-        ( (10,20), (5,20) ),
+        ((20, 20, 20, 20), (20, 21, 20, 200)),
+        ((10, 20), (5, 20)),
     ],
 )
 def test_default_validate_shape(tmpdir, shape, expected_shape):