diff --git a/paramiko/config.py b/paramiko/config.py
index 1c9816d..458d5dd 100644
--- a/paramiko/config.py
+++ b/paramiko/config.py
@@ -105,11 +105,9 @@ class SSHConfig (object):
         """
         matches = [x for x in self._config if fnmatch.fnmatch(hostname, x['host'])]
         # Move * to the end
-        _star = matches[0]
-        del matches[0]
+        _star = matches.pop(0)
         matches.append(_star)
         ret = {}
-        ret = {}
         for m in matches:
             for k,v in m.iteritems():
                 if not k in ret: