diff --git a/src/threadvars.h b/src/threadvars.h
index 6f339e9839..b7b39ad491 100644
--- a/src/threadvars.h
+++ b/src/threadvars.h
@@ -33,7 +33,7 @@
 struct TmSlot_;
 
 /** Thread flags set and read by threads to control the threads */
-#define THV_USE                 BIT_U32(0)  /** thread is in use */
+// bit 0 vacant
 #define THV_INIT_DONE           BIT_U32(1)  /** thread initialization done */
 #define THV_PAUSE               BIT_U32(2)  /** signal thread to pause itself */
 #define THV_PAUSED              BIT_U32(3)  /** the thread is paused atm */
diff --git a/src/tm-threads.c b/src/tm-threads.c
index 63222f9970..d8246cb12b 100644
--- a/src/tm-threads.c
+++ b/src/tm-threads.c
@@ -962,7 +962,6 @@ ThreadVars *TmThreadCreate(const char *name, const char *inq_name, const char *i
 
     /* default state for every newly created thread */
     TmThreadsSetFlag(tv, THV_PAUSE);
-    TmThreadsSetFlag(tv, THV_USE);
 
     /* set the incoming queue */
     if (inq_name != NULL && strcmp(inq_name, "packetpool") != 0) {