diff --git a/libs/temporal/tempo.cc b/libs/temporal/tempo.cc
index c80675faa1..c788020e0b 100644
--- a/libs/temporal/tempo.cc
+++ b/libs/temporal/tempo.cc
@@ -105,9 +105,6 @@ Tempo::Tempo (XMLNode const & node)
 		throw failed_constructor ();
 	}
 
-	if (!node.get_property (X_("active"), _active)) {
-		throw failed_constructor ();
-	}
 	if (!node.get_property (X_("locked-to-meter"), _locked_to_meter)) {
 		_locked_to_meter = true;
 	}
@@ -150,7 +147,6 @@ Tempo::get_state () const
 	node->set_property (X_("enpm"), end_note_types_per_minute());
 	node->set_property (X_("note-type"), note_type());
 	node->set_property (X_("type"), type());
-	node->set_property (X_("active"), active());
 	node->set_property (X_("locked-to-meter"), _locked_to_meter);
 	node->set_property (X_("continuing"), _continuing);
 
@@ -173,7 +169,6 @@ Tempo::set_state (XMLNode const & node, int /*version*/)
 	_end_super_note_type_per_second = double_npm_to_snps (_enpm);
 
 	node.get_property (X_("note-type"), _note_type);
-	node.get_property (X_("active"), _active);
 
 	if (!node.get_property (X_("locked-to-meter"), _locked_to_meter)) {
 		_locked_to_meter = true;
@@ -4518,11 +4513,6 @@ TempoMap::parse_tempo_state_3x (const XMLNode& node, LegacyTempoState& lts)
 		}
 	}
 
-	if (!node.get_property ("active", lts.active)) {
-		warning << _("TempoSection XML node has no \"active\" property") << endmsg;
-		lts.active = true;
-	}
-
 	return 0;
 }
 
diff --git a/libs/temporal/temporal/tempo.h b/libs/temporal/temporal/tempo.h
index 84ce1b7875..df877e70dc 100644
--- a/libs/temporal/temporal/tempo.h
+++ b/libs/temporal/temporal/tempo.h
@@ -192,7 +192,6 @@ class LIBTEMPORAL_API Tempo {
 		, _super_note_type_per_second (double_npm_to_snps (npm))
 		, _end_super_note_type_per_second (double_npm_to_snps (npm))
 		, _note_type (note_type)
-		, _active (true)
 		, _locked_to_meter (false)
 		, _continuing (false)
 		{}
@@ -205,7 +204,6 @@ class LIBTEMPORAL_API Tempo {
 		, _super_note_type_per_second (double_npm_to_snps (npm))
 		, _end_super_note_type_per_second (double_npm_to_snps (enpm))
 		, _note_type (note_type)
-		, _active (true)
 		, _locked_to_meter (false)
 		, _continuing (false)
 		{}
@@ -252,9 +250,6 @@ class LIBTEMPORAL_API Tempo {
 		t = PBD::muldiv_round (Temporal::ticks_per_beat, remain, big_numerator);
 	}
 
-	bool active () const { return _active; }
-	void set_active (bool yn) { _active = yn; }
-
 	bool locked_to_meter ()  const { return _locked_to_meter; }
 	void set_locked_to_meter (bool yn) { _locked_to_meter = yn; }
 
@@ -271,7 +266,6 @@ class LIBTEMPORAL_API Tempo {
 		return _superclocks_per_note_type == other._superclocks_per_note_type &&
 		_end_superclocks_per_note_type == other._end_superclocks_per_note_type &&
 		_note_type == other._note_type &&
-		_active == other._active &&
 		_locked_to_meter == other._locked_to_meter &&
 		_continuing == other._continuing;
 	}
@@ -280,7 +274,6 @@ class LIBTEMPORAL_API Tempo {
 		return _superclocks_per_note_type != other._superclocks_per_note_type ||
 			_end_superclocks_per_note_type != other._end_superclocks_per_note_type ||
 			_note_type != other._note_type ||
-			_active != other._active ||
 			_locked_to_meter != other._locked_to_meter ||
 			_continuing != other._continuing;
 	}
@@ -296,7 +289,6 @@ class LIBTEMPORAL_API Tempo {
 	uint64_t     _super_note_type_per_second;
 	uint64_t     _end_super_note_type_per_second;
 	int8_t       _note_type;
-	bool         _active;
 	bool         _locked_to_meter; /* XXX name has unclear meaning with nutempo */
 	bool         _continuing;
 
@@ -1165,7 +1157,6 @@ class /*LIBTEMPORAL_API*/ TempoMap : public PBD::StatefulDestructible
 		double end_note_types_per_minute;
 		double note_type;
 		bool continuing; /* "clamped" in actual legacy stuff */
-		bool active;
 	};
 
 	struct LegacyMeterState