diff --git a/src/modules/RF69/RF69.cpp b/src/modules/RF69/RF69.cpp
index 8671e137..0b91e5a9 100644
--- a/src/modules/RF69/RF69.cpp
+++ b/src/modules/RF69/RF69.cpp
@@ -716,10 +716,6 @@ int16_t RF69::setSyncWord(const uint8_t* syncWord, size_t len, uint8_t maxErrBit
 
   // set sync word register
   this->mod->SPIwriteRegisterBurst(RADIOLIB_RF69_REG_SYNC_VALUE_1, syncWord, len);
-  if(state == RADIOLIB_ERR_NONE) {
-    this->syncWordLength = len-1;
-  }
-
   return(state);
 }
 
diff --git a/src/modules/RF69/RF69.h b/src/modules/RF69/RF69.h
index 9015d66d..daaea433 100644
--- a/src/modules/RF69/RF69.h
+++ b/src/modules/RF69/RF69.h
@@ -1031,8 +1031,6 @@ class RF69: public PhysicalLayer {
 
     bool promiscuous = false;
 
-    uint8_t syncWordLength = RADIOLIB_RF69_DEFAULT_SW_LEN;
-
     bool bitSync = true;
 
     int16_t directMode();