diff --git a/gtk2_ardour/midi_cue_view.cc b/gtk2_ardour/midi_cue_view.cc
index 5c2d9de67a..ebf3f09cf0 100644
--- a/gtk2_ardour/midi_cue_view.cc
+++ b/gtk2_ardour/midi_cue_view.cc
@@ -59,8 +59,6 @@ MidiCueView::MidiCueView (std::shared_ptr<ARDOUR::MidiTrack> mt,
 {
 	CANVAS_DEBUG_NAME (_note_group, X_("note group for MIDI cue"));
 
-	_needs_active_notes_for_rec_enabled_track = true;
-
 	/* Containers don't get canvas events, so we need an invisible rect
 	 * that will. It will be resized as needed sothat it always covers the
 	 * entire canvas/view.
diff --git a/gtk2_ardour/midi_view.cc b/gtk2_ardour/midi_view.cc
index e4d70be077..97dd279a8f 100644
--- a/gtk2_ardour/midi_view.cc
+++ b/gtk2_ardour/midi_view.cc
@@ -120,7 +120,6 @@ MidiView::MidiView (std::shared_ptr<MidiTrack> mt,
 	, _step_edit_cursor (0)
 	, _step_edit_cursor_width (1, 0)
 	, _channel_selection_scoped_note (0)
-	, _needs_active_notes_for_rec_enabled_track (false)
 	, _mouse_state(None)
 	, _pressed_button(0)
 	, _optimization_iterator (_events.end())
@@ -152,7 +151,6 @@ MidiView::MidiView (MidiView const & other)
 	, _step_edit_cursor (0)
 	, _step_edit_cursor_width (1, 0)
 	, _channel_selection_scoped_note (0)
-	, _needs_active_notes_for_rec_enabled_track (false)
 	, _mouse_state(None)
 	, _pressed_button(0)
 	, _optimization_iterator (_events.end())
diff --git a/gtk2_ardour/midi_view.h b/gtk2_ardour/midi_view.h
index 32355d242e..17bb434437 100644
--- a/gtk2_ardour/midi_view.h
+++ b/gtk2_ardour/midi_view.h
@@ -503,7 +503,6 @@ class MidiView : public virtual sigc::trackable, public LineMerger
 	Temporal::Beats                      _step_edit_cursor_width;
 	Temporal::Beats                      _step_edit_cursor_position;
 	NoteBase*                            _channel_selection_scoped_note;
-	bool                                 _needs_active_notes_for_rec_enabled_track;
 	MouseState _mouse_state;
 	int _pressed_button;