diff --git a/lib/bcoin/bst.js b/lib/bcoin/bst.js
index a11aa418..2241df99 100644
--- a/lib/bcoin/bst.js
+++ b/lib/bcoin/bst.js
@@ -139,17 +139,17 @@ BST.prototype.remove = function remove(key, options) {
 
   if (!current.left || !current.right) {
     if (current.left)
-      child = current.left;
+      current = current.left;
     else
-      child = current.right;
+      current = current.right;
 
     if (!parent) {
-      this.root = child;
+      this.root = current;
     } else {
       if (left)
-        parent.left = child;
+        parent.left = current;
       else
-        parent.right = child;
+        parent.right = current;
     }
 
     return true;