diff --git a/chardev/char.c b/chardev/char.c
index 276d27f403..aee8b4555d 100644
--- a/chardev/char.c
+++ b/chardev/char.c
@@ -42,9 +42,6 @@
 /***********************************************************/
 /* character device */
 
-static QTAILQ_HEAD(ChardevHead, Chardev) chardevs =
-    QTAILQ_HEAD_INITIALIZER(chardevs);
-
 static Object *get_chardevs_root(void)
 {
     return container_get(object_get_root(), "/chardevs");
@@ -418,9 +415,6 @@ static void char_finalize(Object *obj)
 {
     Chardev *chr = CHARDEV(obj);
 
-    if (QTAILQ_IN_USE(chr, next)) {
-        QTAILQ_REMOVE(&chardevs, chr, next);
-    }
     if (chr->be) {
         chr->be->chr = NULL;
     }
diff --git a/include/sysemu/char.h b/include/sysemu/char.h
index 98903f31e4..729d186d01 100644
--- a/include/sysemu/char.h
+++ b/include/sysemu/char.h
@@ -95,7 +95,6 @@ struct Chardev {
     int be_open;
     guint fd_in_tag;
     DECLARE_BITMAP(features, QEMU_CHAR_FEATURE_LAST);
-    QTAILQ_ENTRY(Chardev) next;
 };
 
 /**