diff --git a/qemu/configure b/qemu/configure
index 65d09a3b..c3ed462b 100755
--- a/qemu/configure
+++ b/qemu/configure
@@ -220,7 +220,6 @@ pkgversion=""
 pie=""
 zero_malloc=""
 win_sdk="no"
-zlib="yes"
 
 # parse CC options first
 for opt do
@@ -1073,23 +1072,6 @@ if ! has "$pkg_config_exe"; then
   error_exit "pkg-config binary '$pkg_config_exe' not found"
 fi
 
-##########################################
-# zlib check
-
-if test "$zlib" != "no" ; then
-    cat > $TMPC << EOF
-#include <zlib.h>
-int main(void) { zlibVersion(); return 0; }
-EOF
-    if compile_prog "" "-lz" ; then
-        :
-    else
-        error_exit "zlib check failed" \
-            "Make sure to have the zlib libs and headers installed."
-    fi
-fi
-LIBS="$LIBS -lz"
-
 ##########################################
 # libtool probe
 
diff --git a/qemu/target-arm/helper-a64.c b/qemu/target-arm/helper-a64.c
index 819193f2..63f62b42 100644
--- a/qemu/target-arm/helper-a64.c
+++ b/qemu/target-arm/helper-a64.c
@@ -24,7 +24,6 @@
 #include "qemu/bitops.h"
 #include "internals.h"
 #include "qemu/crc32c.h"
-#include <zlib.h> /* For crc32 */
 
 /* C2.4.7 Multiply and divide */
 /* special cases for 0 and LLONG_MIN are mandated by the standard */
diff --git a/qemu/target-arm/helper.c b/qemu/target-arm/helper.c
index ed5c03d7..6eb86016 100644
--- a/qemu/target-arm/helper.c
+++ b/qemu/target-arm/helper.c
@@ -7,7 +7,6 @@
 #include "qemu/crc32c.h"
 #include "exec/cpu_ldst.h"
 #include "arm_ldst.h"
-#include <zlib.h> /* For crc32 */
 
 #ifndef CONFIG_USER_ONLY
 static inline int get_phys_addr(CPUARMState *env, target_ulong address,