diff --git a/libs/ardour/ardour/disk_io.h b/libs/ardour/ardour/disk_io.h
index 37aa75b6d2..fc420f48a9 100644
--- a/libs/ardour/ardour/disk_io.h
+++ b/libs/ardour/ardour/disk_io.h
@@ -118,7 +118,6 @@ protected:
 
 protected:
 	Flag         _flags;
-	uint32_t      i_am_the_modifier;
 	bool         _slaved;
 	bool          in_set_state;
 	samplepos_t   playback_sample;
diff --git a/libs/ardour/disk_io.cc b/libs/ardour/disk_io.cc
index 076912b1d0..ea71151a43 100644
--- a/libs/ardour/disk_io.cc
+++ b/libs/ardour/disk_io.cc
@@ -50,7 +50,6 @@ const string DiskIOProcessor::state_node_name = X_("DiskIOProcessor");
 DiskIOProcessor::DiskIOProcessor (Session& s, string const & str, Flag f)
 	: Processor (s, str)
 	, _flags (f)
-	, i_am_the_modifier (false)
 	, _slaved (false)
 	, in_set_state (false)
 	, playback_sample (0)
diff --git a/libs/ardour/disk_reader.cc b/libs/ardour/disk_reader.cc
index 4cf0fbc53c..27831aba93 100644
--- a/libs/ardour/disk_reader.cc
+++ b/libs/ardour/disk_reader.cc
@@ -212,7 +212,7 @@ DiskReader::playlist_changed (const PropertyChange&)
 void
 DiskReader::playlist_modified ()
 {
-	if (!i_am_the_modifier && !overwrite_queued) {
+	if (!overwrite_queued) {
 		_session.request_overwrite_buffer (_route);
 		overwrite_queued = true;
 	}