diff --git a/src/disk/hdc_ide.c b/src/disk/hdc_ide.c
index 14ceb6504..7a89c105f 100644
--- a/src/disk/hdc_ide.c
+++ b/src/disk/hdc_ide.c
@@ -1336,10 +1336,6 @@ ide_write_devctl(UNUSED(uint16_t addr), uint8_t val, void *priv)
     uint8_t old;
 
     ch        = dev->cur_dev;
-    /* ATA/ATAPI specification: On a slave with non-present master, pretend the
-                                master is selected. */
-    if (ide_drives[ch]->type & IDE_SHADOW)
-        ch        ^= 1;
     ide       = ide_drives[ch];
     ide_other = ide_drives[ch ^ 1];