diff --git a/include/wlr/types/wlr_output.h b/include/wlr/types/wlr_output.h
index 68b32c373..c1c06a1b8 100644
--- a/include/wlr/types/wlr_output.h
+++ b/include/wlr/types/wlr_output.h
@@ -150,8 +150,6 @@ struct wlr_output {
 	enum wlr_output_adaptive_sync_status adaptive_sync_status;
 	uint32_t render_format;
 
-	bool needs_frame;
-
 	// true for example with VR headsets
 	bool non_desktop;
 
diff --git a/types/output/output.c b/types/output/output.c
index 87d7a6b74..fac919e41 100644
--- a/types/output/output.c
+++ b/types/output/output.c
@@ -680,10 +680,6 @@ bool output_prepare_commit(struct wlr_output *output, const struct wlr_output_st
 void output_apply_commit(struct wlr_output *output, const struct wlr_output_state *state) {
 	output->commit_seq++;
 
-	if (output_pending_enabled(output, state)) {
-		output->needs_frame = false;
-	}
-
 	output_apply_state(output, state);
 
 	struct timespec now;
@@ -817,10 +813,6 @@ size_t wlr_output_get_gamma_size(struct wlr_output *output) {
 }
 
 void wlr_output_update_needs_frame(struct wlr_output *output) {
-	if (output->needs_frame) {
-		return;
-	}
-	output->needs_frame = true;
 	wl_signal_emit_mutable(&output->events.needs_frame, output);
 }