diff --git a/src/devices/machine/nvram.h b/src/devices/machine/nvram.h
index 219d433195e..58bde56bece 100644
--- a/src/devices/machine/nvram.h
+++ b/src/devices/machine/nvram.h
@@ -57,7 +57,6 @@ protected:
 	virtual void nvram_default() override;
 	virtual bool nvram_read(util::read_stream &file) override;
 	virtual bool nvram_write(util::write_stream &file) override;
-	virtual bool nvram_can_write() override { return m_base && m_length; }
 
 	// internal helpers
 	void determine_final_base();