diff --git a/tools/osx_packaging/startup_script b/tools/osx_packaging/startup_script
index 8e6ce2f48c..24db2d77c2 100644
--- a/tools/osx_packaging/startup_script
+++ b/tools/osx_packaging/startup_script
@@ -4,16 +4,6 @@
 # NOTE: Leopard appears not to set PATH for this script, so be absolutely certain
 # never to use any other program without fully specifying the path.
 #
-# this is used to detect a missing JACK install which
-# is the most common thing causing startup crashes.
-# 
-
-if test ! -x /usr/local/bin/jackd -a ! -x /usr/bin/jackd ; then
-   /usr/bin/osascript -e 'tell application "Finder"
-display dialog "You do not have JACK installed. Ardour will not run without it. See http://jackaudio.org/ for info" buttons["OK"]
-end tell'
-   exit 1
-fi
 
 #
 # Some versions of Audacity leave /usr/local/lib unreadable/unsearchable. Ardour will not be able to start up if this is