diff --git a/src/devices/cpu/m6502/n2a03.cpp b/src/devices/cpu/m6502/n2a03.cpp
index 3456603a1cd..dfcd3a34e6c 100644
--- a/src/devices/cpu/m6502/n2a03.cpp
+++ b/src/devices/cpu/m6502/n2a03.cpp
@@ -63,19 +63,6 @@ std::unique_ptr<util::disasm_interface> n2a03_device::create_disassembler()
 	return std::make_unique<n2a03_disassembler>();
 }
 
-void n2a03_device::device_start()
-{
-	if(!m_apu->started())
-		throw device_missing_dependencies();
-
-	m6502_device::device_start();
-}
-
-void n2a03_device::device_clock_changed()
-{
-	m_apu->set_unscaled_clock(clock());
-}
-
 WRITE_LINE_MEMBER(n2a03_device::apu_irq)
 {
 	// games relying on the APU_IRQ don't seem to work anyway? (nes software list : timelord, mig29sf, firehawk)
diff --git a/src/devices/cpu/m6502/n2a03.h b/src/devices/cpu/m6502/n2a03.h
index 4096265b3d9..bb5cbad8e69 100644
--- a/src/devices/cpu/m6502/n2a03.h
+++ b/src/devices/cpu/m6502/n2a03.h
@@ -23,19 +23,14 @@ public:
 
 	virtual void do_exec_full() override;
 	virtual void do_exec_partial() override;
-	virtual void device_clock_changed() override;
 
 	READ8_MEMBER(psg1_4014_r);
 	READ8_MEMBER(psg1_4015_r);
 	WRITE8_MEMBER(psg1_4015_w);
 	WRITE8_MEMBER(psg1_4017_w);
 
-	required_device<nesapu_device> m_apu; // public for vgmplay
-
 	void n2a03_map(address_map &map);
 protected:
-	virtual void device_start() override;
-
 #define O(o) void o ## _full(); void o ## _partial()
 
 	// n2a03 opcodes - same as 6502 with D disabled
@@ -47,6 +42,8 @@ protected:
 
 #undef O
 
+	required_device<nesapu_device> m_apu;
+
 	virtual void device_add_mconfig(machine_config &config) override;
 
 private: