diff --git a/src/channels.c b/src/channels.c
index 03ef42de..e19905b6 100644
--- a/src/channels.c
+++ b/src/channels.c
@@ -1024,8 +1024,6 @@ void ssh_channel_do_free(ssh_channel channel)
         ssh_list_free(channel->callbacks);
     }
 
-    /* debug trick to catch use after frees */
-    memset(channel, 'X', sizeof(struct ssh_channel_struct));
     SAFE_FREE(channel);
 }