diff --git a/src/mame/drivers/vt52.cpp b/src/mame/drivers/vt52.cpp
index 1cd36283e1c..378ab8eb66e 100644
--- a/src/mame/drivers/vt52.cpp
+++ b/src/mame/drivers/vt52.cpp
@@ -43,7 +43,6 @@ public:
 		, m_serial_out(true)
 		, m_rec_data(true)
 		, m_110_baud_counter(0)
-		, m_ready_for_input(false)
 	{
 	}
 
@@ -84,7 +83,6 @@ private:
 	bool m_serial_out;
 	bool m_rec_data;
 	u8 m_110_baud_counter;
-	bool m_ready_for_input;
 };
 
 void vt52_state::machine_start()
@@ -92,13 +90,11 @@ void vt52_state::machine_start()
 	save_item(NAME(m_serial_out));
 	save_item(NAME(m_rec_data));
 	save_item(NAME(m_110_baud_counter));
-	save_item(NAME(m_ready_for_input));
 }
 
 void vt52_state::machine_reset()
 {
 	m_110_baud_counter = 0;
-	m_ready_for_input = true;
 
 	update_serial_settings();
 	m_uart->write_swe(0);
@@ -228,7 +224,7 @@ WRITE_LINE_MEMBER(vt52_state::rec_data_w)
 {
 	m_rec_data = state;
 
-	if (m_ready_for_input)
+	if (machine().ioport().safe_to_read())
 	{
 		ioport_value baud = m_baud_sw->read();
 		if (BIT(baud, 9) && ((~baud & 0x0880) == 0 || (m_serial_out && m_break_key->read())))