diff --git a/lib/asm/arm/code_generator.rb b/lib/asm/arm/code_generator.rb
index 12ef5f07..66ea9750 100644
--- a/lib/asm/arm/code_generator.rb
+++ b/lib/asm/arm/code_generator.rb
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@ require "asm/data_object"
 class Asm::Arm::CodeGenerator
   def initialize
     @asm = Asm::Assembler.new
-    @externs = []
+#    @externs = []
   end
 
   def data(str)
@@ -79,6 +79,7 @@ class Asm::Arm::CodeGenerator
     lbl
   end
 
+  #externs dropped for now
   def extern(sym)
     if (lbl = @externs.find { |extern| extern.name == sym })
       lbl
diff --git a/test/small_program_test.rb b/test/small_program_test.rb
index 3fd302bf..d399854a 100644
--- a/test/small_program_test.rb
+++ b/test/small_program_test.rb
@@ -24,7 +24,8 @@ class TestSmallProg < MiniTest::Test
     write( 5 , "small" )
   end
   
-  def test_extern
+  #test dropped along with functionality, didn't work and not needed (yet?) TODO
+  def no_test_extern
     @generator.instance_eval {
       mov r0 , 50             #1
       push lr                 #2