diff --git a/libraries/render-utils/src/Model.cpp b/libraries/render-utils/src/Model.cpp
index 86d6f9ed86..7262664ddb 100644
--- a/libraries/render-utils/src/Model.cpp
+++ b/libraries/render-utils/src/Model.cpp
@@ -1493,7 +1493,6 @@ void Model::updateBlendshapes() {
 }
 
 void Model::deleteGeometry() {
-    _deleteGeometryCounter++;
     _meshStates.clear();
     _rig.destroyAnimGraph();
     _blendedBlendshapeCoefficients.clear();
diff --git a/libraries/render-utils/src/Model.h b/libraries/render-utils/src/Model.h
index 74cbfd6e7e..255d2bfc12 100644
--- a/libraries/render-utils/src/Model.h
+++ b/libraries/render-utils/src/Model.h
@@ -337,7 +337,6 @@ public:
 
     const MeshState& getMeshState(int index) { return _meshStates.at(index); }
 
-    uint32_t getGeometryCounter() const { return _deleteGeometryCounter; }
     const QMap<render::ItemID, render::PayloadPointer>& getRenderItems() const { return _modelMeshRenderItemsMap; }
     BlendShapeOperator getModelBlendshapeOperator() const { return _modelBlendshapeOperator; }
 
@@ -473,8 +472,6 @@ protected:
     friend class ModelMeshPartPayload;
     Rig _rig;
 
-    uint32_t _deleteGeometryCounter { 0 };
-
     bool _visualGeometryRequestFailed { false };
 
     bool _renderItemsNeedUpdate { false };