diff --git a/src/mame/drivers/gba.cpp b/src/mame/drivers/gba.cpp
index e4ad9c227ea..65f2bfe8efa 100644
--- a/src/mame/drivers/gba.cpp
+++ b/src/mame/drivers/gba.cpp
@@ -1141,8 +1141,10 @@ READ32_MEMBER(gba_state::gba_bios_r)
 			return 0;
 	}
 
-	if (m_bios_protected != 0)
-		offset = (m_bios_last_address + 8) / 4;
+	if (m_maincpu->state_int(ARM7_PC) >= 0x4000)
+	{
+		return 0;
+	}
 
 	return rom[offset & 0x3fff];
 }
@@ -1252,8 +1254,6 @@ void gba_state::machine_reset()
 	RCNT_SET(0x8000);
 	JOYSTAT_SET(0x0002);
 
-	m_bios_protected = 0;
-
 	m_dma_timer[0]->adjust(attotime::never);
 	m_dma_timer[1]->adjust(attotime::never, 1);
 	m_dma_timer[2]->adjust(attotime::never, 2);
@@ -1371,8 +1371,6 @@ void gba_state::machine_start()
 	save_item(NAME(m_fifo_b_in));
 	save_item(NAME(m_fifo_a));
 	save_item(NAME(m_fifo_b));
-	save_item(NAME(m_bios_last_address));
-	save_item(NAME(m_bios_protected));
 }
 
 
@@ -1433,28 +1431,5 @@ ROM_START( gba )
 ROM_END
 
 
-// this emulates the GBA's hardware protection: the BIOS returns only zeros when the PC is not in it,
-// and some games verify that as a protection check (notably Metroid Fusion)
-DIRECT_UPDATE_MEMBER(gba_state::gba_direct)
-{
-	if (address > 0x4000)
-	{
-		m_bios_protected = 1;
-	}
-	else
-	{
-		m_bios_protected = 0;
-		m_bios_last_address = address;
-	}
-	return address;
-}
-
-
-DRIVER_INIT_MEMBER(gba_state,gbadv)
-{
-	m_maincpu->space(AS_PROGRAM).set_direct_update_handler(direct_update_delegate(&gba_state::gba_direct, this));
-}
-
-
 /*    YEAR  NAME PARENT COMPAT MACHINE INPUT   INIT   COMPANY     FULLNAME */
-CONS(2001, gba, 0,     0,     gbadv,  gbadv, gba_state,  gbadv, "Nintendo", "Game Boy Advance", MACHINE_SUPPORTS_SAVE | MACHINE_IMPERFECT_GRAPHICS | MACHINE_IMPERFECT_SOUND)
+CONS(2001, gba, 0,     0,     gbadv,  gbadv, driver_device, 0, "Nintendo", "Game Boy Advance", MACHINE_SUPPORTS_SAVE | MACHINE_IMPERFECT_GRAPHICS | MACHINE_IMPERFECT_SOUND)
diff --git a/src/mame/includes/gba.h b/src/mame/includes/gba.h
index bb6bc4d0643..49ec873e697 100644
--- a/src/mame/includes/gba.h
+++ b/src/mame/includes/gba.h
@@ -62,10 +62,6 @@ public:
 	uint8_t m_fifo_a[20];
 	uint8_t m_fifo_b[20];
 
-	uint32_t m_bios_last_address;
-	int m_bios_protected;
-
-	DIRECT_UPDATE_MEMBER(gba_direct);
 	DECLARE_READ32_MEMBER(gba_io_r);
 	DECLARE_WRITE32_MEMBER(gba_io_w);
 	DECLARE_READ32_MEMBER(gba_bios_r);