diff --git a/openpilot/selfdrive/modeld/compile_modeld.py b/openpilot/selfdrive/modeld/compile_modeld.py
index 34e3095557..2d27a41496 100755
--- a/openpilot/selfdrive/modeld/compile_modeld.py
+++ b/openpilot/selfdrive/modeld/compile_modeld.py
@@ -12,7 +12,6 @@ from collections import namedtuple
 import numpy as np
 
 from openpilot.selfdrive.modeld.helpers import dump_oob, load_oob
-from openpilot.selfdrive.modeld.usbgpu_link import wait_usbgpu_link
 
 def _patch_tinygrad_fetch_fw():
   import hashlib
@@ -295,9 +294,6 @@ if __name__ == "__main__":
   p.add_argument('--frame-skip', type=int, required=True)
   args = p.parse_args()
 
-  if 'USB+AMD' in os.environ.get('DEV', ''):
-    wait_usbgpu_link()
-
   model_path = read_file_chunked_to_disk(args.onnx)
   model_w, model_h = args.model_size
 
diff --git a/openpilot/selfdrive/modeld/modeld.py b/openpilot/selfdrive/modeld/modeld.py
index f1a406b64a..1dc3572d79 100755
--- a/openpilot/selfdrive/modeld/modeld.py
+++ b/openpilot/selfdrive/modeld/modeld.py
@@ -26,7 +26,6 @@ from openpilot.selfdrive.modeld.fill_model_msg import fill_model_msg, fill_drivi
 from openpilot.common.file_chunker import open_file_chunked
 from openpilot.selfdrive.modeld.constants import ModelConstants, Plan
 from openpilot.selfdrive.modeld.helpers import usbgpu_present, usbgpu_compiled, modeld_pkl_path, get_tg_input_devices, load_oob
-from openpilot.selfdrive.modeld.usbgpu_link import wait_usbgpu_link
 
 PROCESS_NAME = "openpilot.selfdrive.modeld.modeld"
 SEND_RAW_PRED = os.getenv('SEND_RAW_PRED')
@@ -187,7 +186,6 @@ def main(demo=False):
     def load_big():
       nonlocal big_model
       try:
-        wait_usbgpu_link()
         m = ModelState(vipc_client_main.width, vipc_client_main.height, True)
         m.warmup()
         big_model = m
diff --git a/openpilot/selfdrive/modeld/usbgpu_link.py b/openpilot/selfdrive/modeld/usbgpu_link.py
deleted file mode 100644
index ef12cba939..0000000000
--- a/openpilot/selfdrive/modeld/usbgpu_link.py
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,34 +0,0 @@
-import time
-from pathlib import Path
-
-from openpilot.common.swaglog import cloudlog
-from openpilot.common.hardware.usb import CHESTNUT_VENDOR_ID, CHESTNUT_PRODUCT_ID, usb_devices, controller, read_int
-
-STABLE_SECONDS = 2.0
-STABLE_THRESHOLD = 5.0  # link errors per second
-
-
-def _chestnut_portli() -> Path | None:
-  for device in usb_devices():
-    if read_int(device / "idVendor", 16) == CHESTNUT_VENDOR_ID and \
-       read_int(device / "idProduct", 16) == CHESTNUT_PRODUCT_ID:
-      ctrl = controller(device)
-      if ctrl is not None and (ctrl / "portli").exists():
-        return ctrl / "portli"
-  return None
-
-
-def wait_usbgpu_link(timeout: float = 30.0) -> None:
-  portli = _chestnut_portli()
-  if portli is None:
-    return
-
-  t0 = time.monotonic()
-  while time.monotonic() - t0 < timeout:
-    start = read_int(portli, 0)
-    time.sleep(STABLE_SECONDS)
-    rate = (read_int(portli, 0) - start) / STABLE_SECONDS
-    if rate <= STABLE_THRESHOLD:
-      return
-    cloudlog.warning(f"usbgpu link not stable: {rate:.0f} errors/s")
-  cloudlog.error("usbgpu link never stabilized")