diff --git a/selfdrive/modeld/modeld.py b/selfdrive/modeld/modeld.py
index 4fab9832ae..bff2ab7387 100755
--- a/selfdrive/modeld/modeld.py
+++ b/selfdrive/modeld/modeld.py
@@ -1,6 +1,5 @@
 #!/usr/bin/env python3
 import sys
-import os
 import time
 import pickle
 import numpy as np
@@ -23,8 +22,6 @@ from openpilot.selfdrive.modeld.models.driving_pyx import (
   FEATURE_LEN, HISTORY_BUFFER_LEN, DESIRE_LEN, TRAFFIC_CONVENTION_LEN, NAV_FEATURE_LEN, NAV_INSTRUCTION_LEN,
   NET_OUTPUT_SIZE, MODEL_FREQ)
 
-DEBUG = bool(int(os.getenv("DEBUG", "0")))
-
 MODEL_PATHS = {
   ModelRunner.THNEED: Path(__file__).parent / 'models/supercombo.thneed',
   ModelRunner.ONNX: Path(__file__).parent / 'models/supercombo.onnx'}