diff --git a/spa/plugins/v4l2/v4l2-udev.c b/spa/plugins/v4l2/v4l2-udev.c
index 4c9c6cb5c..7118b6239 100644
--- a/spa/plugins/v4l2/v4l2-udev.c
+++ b/spa/plugins/v4l2/v4l2-udev.c
@@ -477,9 +477,6 @@ static int start_inotify(struct impl *this)
 
 	spa_loop_add_source(this->main_loop, &this->notify);
 
-	for (size_t i = 0; i < this->n_devices; i++)
-		start_watching_device(this, &this->devices[i]);
-
 	return 0;
 }