diff --git a/sound/isa/es1688/es1688_lib.c b/sound/isa/es1688/es1688_lib.c
index da341969e650..1d9556c045e9 100644
--- a/sound/isa/es1688/es1688_lib.c
+++ b/sound/isa/es1688/es1688_lib.c
@@ -121,7 +121,7 @@ EXPORT_SYMBOL(snd_es1688_reset);
 static int snd_es1688_probe(struct snd_es1688 *chip)
 {
 	unsigned long flags;
-	unsigned short major, minor, hw;
+	unsigned short major, minor;
 	int i;
 
 	/*
@@ -166,14 +166,12 @@ static int snd_es1688_probe(struct snd_es1688 *chip)
 	if (!chip->version)
 		return -ENODEV;	/* probably SB */
 
-	hw = ES1688_HW_AUTO;
 	switch (chip->version & 0xfff0) {
 	case 0x4880:
 		snd_printk(KERN_ERR "[0x%lx] ESS: AudioDrive ES488 detected, "
 			   "but driver is in another place\n", chip->port);
 		return -ENODEV;
 	case 0x6880:
-		hw = (chip->version & 0x0f) >= 8 ? ES1688_HW_1688 : ES1688_HW_688;
 		break;
 	default:
 		snd_printk(KERN_ERR "[0x%lx] ESS: unknown AudioDrive chip "