diff --git a/src/libespeak-ng/synthesize.c b/src/libespeak-ng/synthesize.c
index 5a5e3433..49ce821e 100644
--- a/src/libespeak-ng/synthesize.c
+++ b/src/libespeak-ng/synthesize.c
@@ -1158,9 +1158,6 @@ int Generate(PHONEME_LIST *phoneme_list, int *n_ph, int resume)
 	FMT_PARAMS fmtp;
 	static WORD_PH_DATA worddata;
 
-	if (option_quiet)
-		return 0;
-
 	if (option_phoneme_events & espeakINITIALIZE_PHONEME_IPA)
 		use_ipa = 1;
 
diff --git a/src/libespeak-ng/translate.c b/src/libespeak-ng/translate.c
index 34a50b05..fa4bef14 100644
--- a/src/libespeak-ng/translate.c
+++ b/src/libespeak-ng/translate.c
@@ -45,7 +45,6 @@ int option_tone2 = 0;
 int option_tone_flags = 0; // bit 8=emphasize allcaps, bit 9=emphasize penultimate stress
 int option_phonemes = 0;
 int option_phoneme_events = 0;
-int option_quiet = 0;
 int option_endpause = 0; // suppress pause after end of text
 int option_capitals = 0;
 int option_punctuation = 0;
diff --git a/src/libespeak-ng/translate.h b/src/libespeak-ng/translate.h
index 4e8f3d91..bf782867 100644
--- a/src/libespeak-ng/translate.h
+++ b/src/libespeak-ng/translate.h
@@ -656,7 +656,6 @@ extern int option_tone2;
 #define OPTION_EMPHASIZE_ALLCAPS  0x100
 #define OPTION_EMPHASIZE_PENULTIMATE 0x200
 extern int option_tone_flags;
-extern int option_quiet;
 extern int option_phonemes;
 extern int option_phoneme_events;
 extern int option_linelength;     // treat lines shorter than this as end-of-clause
diff --git a/src/libespeak-ng/voices.c b/src/libespeak-ng/voices.c
index 6bb3e3c3..40468ae9 100644
--- a/src/libespeak-ng/voices.c
+++ b/src/libespeak-ng/voices.c
@@ -421,7 +421,6 @@ void VoiceReset(int tone_only)
 
 	if (tone_only == 0) {
 		n_replace_phonemes = 0;
-		option_quiet = 0;
 		LoadMbrolaTable(NULL, NULL, 0);
 	}
 }
diff --git a/src/libespeak-ng/wavegen.c b/src/libespeak-ng/wavegen.c
index d3f26e14..48ccb801 100644
--- a/src/libespeak-ng/wavegen.c
+++ b/src/libespeak-ng/wavegen.c
@@ -70,7 +70,6 @@ static int PHASE_INC_FACTOR;
 int samplerate = 0; // this is set by Wavegeninit()
 int samplerate_native = 0;
 extern int option_device_number;
-extern int option_quiet;
 
 static wavegen_peaks_t peaks[N_PEAKS];
 static int peak_harmonic[N_PEAKS];
@@ -513,11 +512,6 @@ int WavegenOpenSound()
 	PaError err, err2;
 	PaError active;
 
-	if (option_quiet) {
-		// writing to WAV file, not to portaudio
-		return 0;
-	}
-
 #if USE_PORTAUDIO == 18
 	active = Pa_StreamActive(pa_stream);
 #else
@@ -592,9 +586,6 @@ int WavegenInitSound()
 {
 	PaError err;
 
-	if (option_quiet)
-		return 0;
-
 	// PortAudio sound output library
 	err = Pa_Initialize();
 	pa_init_err = err;