diff --git a/system/libraries/Email.php b/system/libraries/Email.php
index 011a88c..63b7dc3 100644
--- a/system/libraries/Email.php
+++ b/system/libraries/Email.php
@@ -2234,17 +2234,9 @@
 	 */
 	protected function _mime_types($ext = '')
 	{
-		static $_mimes;
-
 		$ext = strtolower($ext);
 
-		if (empty($_mimes))
-		{
-			// references cannot be directly assigned to static variables, so we use an array
-			$_mimes[0] =& get_mimes();
-		}
-
-		$mimes =& $_mimes[0];
+		$mimes =& get_mimes();
 
 		if (isset($mimes[$ext]))
 		{