diff --git a/src/emu/video/mc6845.c b/src/emu/video/mc6845.c
index 474ff305c43..f0504443fd9 100644
--- a/src/emu/video/mc6845.c
+++ b/src/emu/video/mc6845.c
@@ -781,7 +781,6 @@ void mc6845_device::device_start()
 	m_vert_sync_pos = 1;
 	m_de = 0;
 	m_sync_width = 1;
-	m_vert_char_total = 0;
 	m_vert_disp = 0;
 	m_horiz_pix_total = m_vert_pix_total = 0;
 	m_max_visible_x = m_max_visible_y = 0;