diff --git a/arch/mips/include/asm/vpe.h b/arch/mips/include/asm/vpe.h
index baa949a744cb..ef7e07829607 100644
--- a/arch/mips/include/asm/vpe.h
+++ b/arch/mips/include/asm/vpe.h
@@ -102,7 +102,6 @@ struct vpe_control {
 	struct list_head tc_list;       /* Thread contexts */
 };
 
-extern unsigned long physical_memsize;
 extern struct vpe_control vpecontrol;
 extern const struct file_operations vpe_fops;
 
diff --git a/arch/mips/kernel/vpe-mt.c b/arch/mips/kernel/vpe-mt.c
index 84a82b551ec3..223d6274f2e5 100644
--- a/arch/mips/kernel/vpe-mt.c
+++ b/arch/mips/kernel/vpe-mt.c
@@ -92,12 +92,11 @@ int vpe_run(struct vpe *v)
 	write_tc_c0_tchalt(read_tc_c0_tchalt() & ~TCHALT_H);
 
 	/*
-	 * The sde-kit passes 'memsize' to __start in $a3, so set something
-	 * here...  Or set $a3 to zero and define DFLT_STACK_SIZE and
-	 * DFLT_HEAP_SIZE when you compile your program
+	 * We don't pass the memsize here, so VPE programs need to be
+	 * compiled with DFLT_STACK_SIZE and DFLT_HEAP_SIZE defined.
 	 */
+	mttgpr(7, 0);
 	mttgpr(6, v->ntcs);
-	mttgpr(7, physical_memsize);
 
 	/* set up VPE1 */
 	/*
diff --git a/arch/mips/lantiq/prom.c b/arch/mips/lantiq/prom.c
index bc9f58fcbdf9..86c743747e79 100644
--- a/arch/mips/lantiq/prom.c
+++ b/arch/mips/lantiq/prom.c
@@ -22,12 +22,6 @@
 DEFINE_SPINLOCK(ebu_lock);
 EXPORT_SYMBOL_GPL(ebu_lock);
 
-/*
- * This is needed by the VPE loader code, just set it to 0 and assume
- * that the firmware hardcodes this value to something useful.
- */
-unsigned long physical_memsize = 0L;
-
 /*
  * this struct is filled by the soc specific detection code and holds
  * information about the specific soc type, revision and name