diff --git a/include/player.h b/include/player.h
index c5156e58..5fdc9a9c 100644
--- a/include/player.h
+++ b/include/player.h
@@ -65,7 +65,6 @@ struct player {
     int god;
     int owner;
     int nstat;
-    int waiting;
     int simulation;		/* e.g. budget command */
     double dolcost;
     int broke;
diff --git a/include/prototypes.h b/include/prototypes.h
index f1023bd9..3829683a 100644
--- a/include/prototypes.h
+++ b/include/prototypes.h
@@ -400,8 +400,6 @@ extern struct player *player_delete(struct player *);
 extern struct player *player_next(struct player *);
 extern struct player *player_prev(struct player *);
 extern struct player *getplayer(natid);
-extern void player_wakeup_all(natid);
-extern void player_wakeup(struct player *);
 extern void player_accept(void *);
 /* dispatch.c */
 extern int dispatch(char *, char *);
diff --git a/src/lib/commands/flash.c b/src/lib/commands/flash.c
index 09348cc3..339d41f4 100644
--- a/src/lib/commands/flash.c
+++ b/src/lib/commands/flash.c
@@ -159,7 +159,6 @@ sendmessage(struct natstr *us, struct natstr *to, char *message, int verbose)
 	else
 	    pr_flash(other, "%s (#%d): %s\n",
 		     us->nat_cnam, us->nat_cnum, message);
-	player_wakeup(other);
 	sent++;
     }
     if (player->god) {
diff --git a/src/lib/player/accept.c b/src/lib/player/accept.c
index 81987567..a1c07459 100644
--- a/src/lib/player/accept.c
+++ b/src/lib/player/accept.c
@@ -163,22 +163,6 @@ getplayer(natid cnum)
     return NULL;
 }
 
-void
-player_wakeup_all(natid cnum)
-{
-    struct player *lp;
-
-    if (NULL != (lp = getplayer(cnum)))
-	player_wakeup(lp);
-}
-
-void
-player_wakeup(struct player *pl)
-{
-    if (pl->waiting)
-	empth_wakeup(pl->proc);
-}
-
 /*ARGSUSED*/
 void
 player_accept(void *unused)
diff --git a/src/lib/subs/wu.c b/src/lib/subs/wu.c
index 722e47c8..970625ca 100644
--- a/src/lib/subs/wu.c
+++ b/src/lib/subs/wu.c
@@ -129,7 +129,6 @@ typed_wu(natid from, natid to, char *message, int type)
 #endif
     int fd;
     char box[1024];
-    int notify = 0;
     int write_ok = 0;
     int new_tele = 0;
     struct player *other;
@@ -181,16 +180,12 @@ typed_wu(natid from, natid to, char *message, int type)
 		continue;
 	    if (!player->god && (getrejects(from, np) & REJ_ANNO))
 		continue;
-	    notify = (np->nat_ann == 0);
 	    np->nat_ann++;
 	    putnat(np);
-	    if (notify)
-		player_wakeup_all(to);
 	}
     } else if (write_ok) {
-	notify = (np->nat_tgms == 0);
 	new_tele = telegram_is_new(to, &tel);
-	np->nat_tgms += new_tele || notify;
+	np->nat_tgms += new_tele || np->nat_tgms == 0;
 	putnat(np);
 
 	if (new_tele && np->nat_flags & NF_INFORM) {
@@ -199,10 +194,8 @@ typed_wu(natid from, natid to, char *message, int type)
 		    pr_inform(other, "[new tele]\n");
 		else
 		    pr_inform(other, "[%d new teles]\n", np->nat_tgms);
-		player_wakeup_all(to);
 	    }
-	} else if (notify)
-	    player_wakeup_all(to);
+	}
     }
 
     return 0;