diff --git a/hw/scsi/esp.c b/hw/scsi/esp.c
index 349067eb6a..15c4c33052 100644
--- a/hw/scsi/esp.c
+++ b/hw/scsi/esp.c
@@ -229,7 +229,6 @@ static void do_busid_cmd(ESPState *s, uint8_t *buf, uint8_t busid)
     if (datalen != 0) {
         s->rregs[ESP_RSTAT] = STAT_TC;
         s->dma_left = 0;
-        s->dma_counter = 0;
         if (datalen > 0) {
             s->rregs[ESP_RSTAT] |= STAT_DI;
         } else {
@@ -542,7 +541,7 @@ void esp_transfer_data(SCSIRequest *req, uint32_t len)
     s->async_buf = scsi_req_get_buf(req);
     if (s->dma_left) {
         esp_do_dma(s);
-    } else if (s->dma_counter != 0 && s->ti_size <= 0) {
+    } else if (s->ti_size <= 0) {
         /*
          * If this was the last part of a DMA transfer then the
          * completion interrupt is deferred to here.
@@ -561,7 +560,6 @@ static void handle_ti(ESPState *s)
     }
 
     dmalen = esp_get_tc(s);
-    s->dma_counter = dmalen;
 
     if (s->do_cmd) {
         minlen = (dmalen < ESP_CMDBUF_SZ) ? dmalen : ESP_CMDBUF_SZ;
diff --git a/include/hw/scsi/esp.h b/include/hw/scsi/esp.h
index 9d149cbc9f..ff1372947b 100644
--- a/include/hw/scsi/esp.h
+++ b/include/hw/scsi/esp.h
@@ -50,9 +50,6 @@ struct ESPState {
 
     /* The amount of data left in the current DMA transfer.  */
     uint32_t dma_left;
-    /* The size of the current DMA transfer.  Zero if no transfer is in
-       progress.  */
-    uint32_t dma_counter;
     int dma_enabled;
 
     uint32_t async_len;