diff --git a/libs/ardour/ardour/processor.h b/libs/ardour/ardour/processor.h
index a15ecdedcc..58f1520888 100644
--- a/libs/ardour/ardour/processor.h
+++ b/libs/ardour/ardour/processor.h
@@ -161,7 +161,7 @@ protected:
 	virtual XMLNode& state ();
 	virtual int set_state_2X (const XMLNode&, int version);
 
-	bool check_active ();
+	bool check_active () { return (_active = _pending_active); }
 	bool map_loop_range (samplepos_t& start, samplepos_t& end) const;
 
 	int       _pending_active;
diff --git a/libs/ardour/processor.cc b/libs/ardour/processor.cc
index ec0e3375f1..2d6a78c198 100644
--- a/libs/ardour/processor.cc
+++ b/libs/ardour/processor.cc
@@ -332,18 +332,3 @@ Processor::owner() const
 {
 	return _owner;
 }
-
-bool
-Processor::check_active ()
-{
-	if (_active) {
-		if (!_pending_active) {
-			_active = false;
-		}
-	} else {
-		if (_pending_active) {
-			_active = true;
-		}
-	}
-	return _active;
-}