diff --git a/libs/ardour/session.cc b/libs/ardour/session.cc
index ef7bf5d200..9ef3633819 100644
--- a/libs/ardour/session.cc
+++ b/libs/ardour/session.cc
@@ -384,8 +384,6 @@ Session::Session (AudioEngine &eng,
 	StartTimeChanged.connect_same_thread (*this, boost::bind (&Session::start_time_changed, this, _1));
 	EndTimeChanged.connect_same_thread (*this, boost::bind (&Session::end_time_changed, this, _1));
 
-	_is_new = false;
-
 	emit_thread_start ();
 
 	/* hook us up to the engine since we are now completely constructed */