diff --git a/gtk2_ardour/automation_controller.cc b/gtk2_ardour/automation_controller.cc
index bb51b94fc4..a80a474232 100644
--- a/gtk2_ardour/automation_controller.cc
+++ b/gtk2_ardour/automation_controller.cc
@@ -137,23 +137,6 @@ AutomationController::end_touch ()
 	}
 }
 
-void
-AutomationController::automation_state_changed ()
-{
-	ENSURE_GUI_THREAD (*this, &AutomationController::automation_state_changed)
-
-	bool x = (_controllable->automation_state() != Off);
-
-	/* start watching automation so that things move */
-
-	_screen_update_connection.disconnect();
-
-	if (x) {
-		_screen_update_connection = ARDOUR_UI::RapidScreenUpdate.connect (
-				sigc::mem_fun (*this, &AutomationController::display_effective_value));
-	}
-}
-
 void
 AutomationController::value_changed ()
 {
diff --git a/gtk2_ardour/automation_controller.h b/gtk2_ardour/automation_controller.h
index 0392d8c9a4..88e6d87e01 100644
--- a/gtk2_ardour/automation_controller.h
+++ b/gtk2_ardour/automation_controller.h
@@ -62,7 +62,6 @@ private:
 	void end_touch();
 
 	void value_changed();
-	void automation_state_changed();
 
 	bool                                         _ignore_change;
         boost::shared_ptr<ARDOUR::Automatable>       _printer;