diff --git a/server/include/if.h b/server/include/if.h
index 35aed2e7f..b46f15b03 100644
--- a/server/include/if.h
+++ b/server/include/if.h
@@ -31,8 +31,6 @@ struct socket;
 struct interface {
 	/** The index used by the kernel to reference this interface */
 	int index;
-	/** How many nodes use this interface for outgoing packets */
-	int refcnt;
 	/** Human readable name of this interface */
 	char name[IF_NAME_MAX];
 	/** List of IRQs of the NIC */
diff --git a/server/src/if.c b/server/src/if.c
index 1e3c0f537..8dbb0d8d0 100644
--- a/server/src/if.c
+++ b/server/src/if.c
@@ -48,12 +48,7 @@ void if_destroy(struct interface *i)
 
 int if_start(struct interface *i, int affinity)
 {
-	if (!i->refcnt) {
-		warn("Interface '%s' is not used by an active node", i->name);
-		return -1;
-	}
-	else
-		info("Starting interface '%s' (index=%u)", i->name, i->index);
+	info("Starting interface '%s' (index=%u)", i->name, i->index);
 	
 	{ INDENT
 		/* Assign fwmark's to socket nodes which have netem options */