diff --git a/hw/net/cadence_gem.c b/hw/net/cadence_gem.c
index df6d8186ca..78fb9acf96 100644
--- a/hw/net/cadence_gem.c
+++ b/hw/net/cadence_gem.c
@@ -350,11 +350,6 @@ static inline unsigned tx_desc_get_last(uint32_t *desc)
     return (desc[1] & DESC_1_TX_LAST) ? 1 : 0;
 }
 
-static inline void tx_desc_set_last(uint32_t *desc)
-{
-    desc[1] |= DESC_1_TX_LAST;
-}
-
 static inline unsigned tx_desc_get_length(uint32_t *desc)
 {
     return desc[1] & DESC_1_LENGTH;
@@ -1298,7 +1293,6 @@ static void gem_transmit(CadenceGEMState *s)
 
             /* read next descriptor */
             if (tx_desc_get_wrap(desc)) {
-                tx_desc_set_last(desc);
 
                 if (s->regs[GEM_DMACFG] & GEM_DMACFG_ADDR_64B) {
                     packet_desc_addr = s->regs[GEM_TBQPH];