diff --git a/src/emu/machine.cpp b/src/emu/machine.cpp
index 36620b4258d..47a860b9adb 100644
--- a/src/emu/machine.cpp
+++ b/src/emu/machine.cpp
@@ -107,8 +107,7 @@ osd_interface &running_machine::osd() const
 //-------------------------------------------------
 
 running_machine::running_machine(const machine_config &_config, machine_manager &manager)
-	: primary_screen(nullptr),
-		m_side_effects_disabled(0),
+	: m_side_effects_disabled(0),
 		debug_flags(0),
 		m_config(_config),
 		m_system(_config.gamedrv()),
@@ -143,9 +142,6 @@ running_machine::running_machine(const machine_config &_config, machine_manager
 	for (device_t &device : iter)
 		device.set_machine(*this);
 
-	// find devices
-	primary_screen = screen_device_iterator(root_device()).first();
-
 	// fetch core options
 	if (options().debug())
 		debug_flags = (DEBUG_FLAG_ENABLED | DEBUG_FLAG_CALL_HOOK) | (DEBUG_FLAG_OSD_ENABLED);
diff --git a/src/emu/machine.h b/src/emu/machine.h
index 3cbf07b2372..303536df354 100644
--- a/src/emu/machine.h
+++ b/src/emu/machine.h
@@ -258,9 +258,6 @@ public:
 	std::string get_statename(const char *statename_opt) const;
 
 private:
-	// video-related information
-	screen_device *         primary_screen;     // the primary screen device, or nullptr if screenless
-
 	// side effect disable counter
 	u32                     m_side_effects_disabled;