diff --git a/hw/audio/hda-codec.c b/hw/audio/hda-codec.c
index 66edad280f2..92e1fe65827 100644
--- a/hw/audio/hda-codec.c
+++ b/hw/audio/hda-codec.c
@@ -187,7 +187,6 @@ struct HDAAudioState {
     /* properties */
     uint32_t debug;
     bool     mixer;
-    bool     use_timer;
 };
 
 static inline uint32_t hda_bytes_per_second(HDAAudioStream *st)
@@ -366,58 +365,6 @@ static void hda_audio_output_cb(void *opaque, int avail)
     hda_timer_sync_adjust(st, (wpos - rpos) - (B_SIZE >> 1));
 }
 
-static void hda_audio_compat_input_cb(void *opaque, int avail)
-{
-    HDAAudioStream *st = opaque;
-    int recv = 0;
-    int len;
-    bool rc;
-
-    while (avail - recv >= sizeof(st->compat_buf)) {
-        if (st->compat_bpos != sizeof(st->compat_buf)) {
-            len = AUD_read(st->voice.in, st->compat_buf + st->compat_bpos,
-                           sizeof(st->compat_buf) - st->compat_bpos);
-            st->compat_bpos += len;
-            recv += len;
-            if (st->compat_bpos != sizeof(st->compat_buf)) {
-                break;
-            }
-        }
-        rc = hda_codec_xfer(&st->state->hda, st->stream, false,
-                            st->compat_buf, sizeof(st->compat_buf));
-        if (!rc) {
-            break;
-        }
-        st->compat_bpos = 0;
-    }
-}
-
-static void hda_audio_compat_output_cb(void *opaque, int avail)
-{
-    HDAAudioStream *st = opaque;
-    int sent = 0;
-    int len;
-    bool rc;
-
-    while (avail - sent >= sizeof(st->compat_buf)) {
-        if (st->compat_bpos == sizeof(st->compat_buf)) {
-            rc = hda_codec_xfer(&st->state->hda, st->stream, true,
-                                st->compat_buf, sizeof(st->compat_buf));
-            if (!rc) {
-                break;
-            }
-            st->compat_bpos = 0;
-        }
-        len = AUD_write(st->voice.out, st->compat_buf + st->compat_bpos,
-                        sizeof(st->compat_buf) - st->compat_bpos);
-        st->compat_bpos += len;
-        sent += len;
-        if (st->compat_bpos != sizeof(st->compat_buf)) {
-            break;
-        }
-    }
-}
-
 static void hda_audio_set_running(HDAAudioStream *st, bool running)
 {
     if (st->node == NULL) {
@@ -428,16 +375,14 @@ static void hda_audio_set_running(HDAAudioStream *st, bool running)
     }
     st->running = running;
     trace_hda_audio_running(st->node->name, st->stream, st->running);
-    if (st->state->use_timer) {
-        if (running) {
-            int64_t now = qemu_clock_get_ns(QEMU_CLOCK_VIRTUAL);
-            st->rpos = 0;
-            st->wpos = 0;
-            st->buft_start = now;
-            timer_mod_anticipate_ns(st->buft, now + HDA_TIMER_TICKS);
-        } else {
-            timer_del(st->buft);
-        }
+    if (running) {
+        int64_t now = qemu_clock_get_ns(QEMU_CLOCK_VIRTUAL);
+        st->rpos = 0;
+        st->wpos = 0;
+        st->buft_start = now;
+        timer_mod_anticipate_ns(st->buft, now + HDA_TIMER_TICKS);
+    } else {
+        timer_del(st->buft);
     }
     if (st->output) {
         AUD_set_active_out(st->voice.out, st->running);
@@ -474,7 +419,6 @@ static void hda_audio_set_amp(HDAAudioStream *st)
 
 static void hda_audio_setup(HDAAudioStream *st)
 {
-    bool use_timer = st->state->use_timer;
     audio_callback_fn cb;
 
     if (st->node == NULL) {
@@ -485,21 +429,13 @@ static void hda_audio_setup(HDAAudioStream *st)
                            fmt2name[st->as.fmt], st->as.freq);
 
     if (st->output) {
-        if (use_timer) {
-            cb = hda_audio_output_cb;
-            timer_del(st->buft);
-        } else {
-            cb = hda_audio_compat_output_cb;
-        }
+        cb = hda_audio_output_cb;
+        timer_del(st->buft);
         st->voice.out = AUD_open_out(&st->state->card, st->voice.out,
                                      st->node->name, st, cb, &st->as);
     } else {
-        if (use_timer) {
-            cb = hda_audio_input_cb;
-            timer_del(st->buft);
-        } else {
-            cb = hda_audio_compat_input_cb;
-        }
+        cb = hda_audio_input_cb;
+        timer_del(st->buft);
         st->voice.in = AUD_open_in(&st->state->card, st->voice.in,
                                    st->node->name, st, cb, &st->as);
     }
@@ -805,7 +741,7 @@ static void hda_audio_reset(DeviceState *dev)
 static bool vmstate_hda_audio_stream_buf_needed(void *opaque)
 {
     HDAAudioStream *st = opaque;
-    return st->state && st->state->use_timer;
+    return st->state;
 }
 
 static const VMStateDescription vmstate_hda_audio_stream_buf = {
@@ -861,7 +797,6 @@ static const Property hda_audio_properties[] = {
     DEFINE_AUDIO_PROPERTIES(HDAAudioState, card),
     DEFINE_PROP_UINT32("debug", HDAAudioState, debug,   0),
     DEFINE_PROP_BOOL("mixer", HDAAudioState, mixer,  true),
-    DEFINE_PROP_BOOL("use-timer", HDAAudioState, use_timer,  true),
 };
 
 static void hda_audio_init_output(HDACodecDevice *hda, Error **errp)
