diff --git a/defs.h b/defs.h
index d340cbd5..ab24f7cf 100644
--- a/defs.h
+++ b/defs.h
@@ -368,9 +368,8 @@ struct tcb {
 	struct timeval etime;	/* Syscall entry time */
 				/* Support for tracing forked processes */
 	struct tcb *parent;	/* Parent of this process */
-	int nchildren;		/* # of traced children */
 #ifdef LINUX
-	int nclone_threads;	/* # of nchildren with CLONE_THREAD */
+	int nclone_threads;	/* # of children with CLONE_THREAD */
 #endif
 				/* (1st arg of wait4()) */
 	long baddr;		/* `Breakpoint' address */
diff --git a/process.c b/process.c
index 0584f547..2447452d 100644
--- a/process.c
+++ b/process.c
@@ -836,7 +836,6 @@ handle_new_child(struct tcb *tcp, int pid, int bpt)
 			sizeof tcpchild->inst);
 	}
 	tcpchild->parent = tcp;
-	tcp->nchildren++;
 	if (tcpchild->flags & TCB_SUSPENDED) {
 		/* The child was born suspended, due to our having
 		   forced CLONE_PTRACE.  */
@@ -877,10 +876,8 @@ Process %u resumed (parent %d ready)\n",
 			   new thread, there will never be a
 			   TCB_CLONE_THREAD process that has
 			   children.  */
-			--tcp->nchildren;
 			tcp = tcp->parent;
 			tcpchild->parent = tcp;
-			++tcp->nchildren;
 		}
 		if (call_flags & CLONE_THREAD) {
 			tcpchild->flags |= TCB_CLONE_THREAD;
@@ -888,12 +885,10 @@ Process %u resumed (parent %d ready)\n",
 		}
 		if ((call_flags & CLONE_PARENT) &&
 		    !(call_flags & CLONE_THREAD)) {
-			--tcp->nchildren;
 			tcpchild->parent = NULL;
 			if (tcp->parent != NULL) {
 				tcp = tcp->parent;
 				tcpchild->parent = tcp;
-				++tcp->nchildren;
 			}
 		}
 	}
@@ -1023,7 +1018,6 @@ internal_fork(struct tcb *tcp)
 				sizeof tcpchild->inst);
 		}
 		tcpchild->parent = tcp;
-		tcp->nchildren++;
 		if (!qflag)
 			fprintf(stderr, "Process %d attached\n", pid);
 	}
diff --git a/strace.c b/strace.c
index 6fb6fd6e..94559a5c 100644
--- a/strace.c
+++ b/strace.c
@@ -514,7 +514,6 @@ startup_attach(void)
 					else if (tid != tcbtab[tcbi]->pid) {
 						tcp = alloctcb(tid);
 						tcp->flags |= TCB_ATTACHED|TCB_CLONE_THREAD|TCB_FOLLOWFORK;
-						tcbtab[tcbi]->nchildren++;
 						tcbtab[tcbi]->nclone_threads++;
 						tcp->parent = tcbtab[tcbi];
 					}
@@ -1284,7 +1283,6 @@ alloc_tcb(int pid, int command_options_parsed)
 		if ((tcp->flags & TCB_INUSE) == 0) {
 			tcp->pid = pid;
 			tcp->parent = NULL;
-			tcp->nchildren = 0;
 #ifdef TCB_CLONE_THREAD
 			tcp->nclone_threads = 0;
 #endif
@@ -1662,15 +1660,14 @@ droptcb(struct tcb *tcp)
 	tcp->pid = 0;
 
 	if (tcp->parent != NULL) {
-		tcp->parent->nchildren--;
 #ifdef TCB_CLONE_THREAD
 		if (tcp->flags & TCB_CLONE_THREAD)
 			tcp->parent->nclone_threads--;
 #endif
 #ifdef LINUX
-		/* Update `tcp->parent->parent->nchildren' and the other fields
-		   like NCLONE_DETACHED, only for zombie group leader that has
-		   already reported and been short-circuited at the top of this
+		/* Update fields like NCLONE_DETACHED, only
+		   for zombie group leader that has already reported
+		   and been short-circuited at the top of this
 		   function.  The same condition as at the top of DETACH.  */
 		if ((tcp->flags & TCB_CLONE_THREAD) &&
 		    tcp->parent->nclone_threads == 0 &&