diff --git a/Rover/system.cpp b/Rover/system.cpp
index a419dfca8a..10cc4a975b 100644
--- a/Rover/system.cpp
+++ b/Rover/system.cpp
@@ -188,10 +188,6 @@ void Rover::startup_ground(void)
 #if AP_SCRIPTING_ENABLED
     g2.scripting.init();
 #endif // AP_SCRIPTING_ENABLED
-
-    // we don't want writes to the serial port to cause us to pause
-    // so set serial ports non-blocking once we are ready to drive
-    serial_manager.set_blocking_writes_all(false);
 }
 
 // update the ahrs flyforward setting which can allow