diff --git a/sys/src/cmd/nusb/serial/serial.c b/sys/src/cmd/nusb/serial/serial.c
index 295333e00..9f37a57fe 100644
--- a/sys/src/cmd/nusb/serial/serial.c
+++ b/sys/src/cmd/nusb/serial/serial.c
@@ -31,8 +31,6 @@ serialfatal(Serial *ser)
 			chanclose(p->w4data);
 		if(p->gotdata != nil)
 			chanclose(p->gotdata);
-		if(p->readc)
-			chanclose(p->readc);
 	}
 }
 
diff --git a/sys/src/cmd/nusb/serial/serial.h b/sys/src/cmd/nusb/serial/serial.h
index eb46996f5..6524b7aa6 100644
--- a/sys/src/cmd/nusb/serial/serial.h
+++ b/sys/src/cmd/nusb/serial/serial.h
@@ -62,7 +62,6 @@ struct Serialport {
 
 	Channel *w4data;
 	Channel *gotdata;
-	Channel *readc;		/* to uncouple reads, only used in ftdi... */
 	int	ndata;
 	uchar	data[DataBufSz];