diff --git a/drivers/s390/cio/chp.c b/drivers/s390/cio/chp.c
index 0b3c310..62df43b 100644
--- a/drivers/s390/cio/chp.c
+++ b/drivers/s390/cio/chp.c
@@ -415,8 +415,7 @@
 		goto out_free;
 	}
 	/* Get channel-measurement characteristics. */
-	if (css_characteristics_avail && css_chsc_characteristics.scmc
-	    && css_chsc_characteristics.secm) {
+	if (css_chsc_characteristics.scmc && css_chsc_characteristics.secm) {
 		ret = chsc_get_channel_measurement_chars(chp);
 		if (ret)
 			goto out_free;
diff --git a/drivers/s390/cio/chsc.h b/drivers/s390/cio/chsc.h
index d4498d4..2a38b50 100644
--- a/drivers/s390/cio/chsc.h
+++ b/drivers/s390/cio/chsc.h
@@ -78,7 +78,6 @@
 extern int chsc_get_ssd_info(struct subchannel_id schid,
 			     struct chsc_ssd_info *ssd);
 extern int chsc_determine_css_characteristics(void);
-extern int css_characteristics_avail;
 extern int chsc_alloc_sei_area(void);
 extern void chsc_free_sei_area(void);
 
diff --git a/drivers/s390/cio/cmf.c b/drivers/s390/cio/cmf.c
index 6c77c23..7752313 100644
--- a/drivers/s390/cio/cmf.c
+++ b/drivers/s390/cio/cmf.c
@@ -1344,8 +1344,7 @@
 	 * to basic mode.
 	 */
 	if (format == CMF_AUTODETECT) {
-		if (!css_characteristics_avail ||
-		    !css_general_characteristics.ext_mb) {
+		if (!css_general_characteristics.ext_mb) {
 			format = CMF_BASIC;
 		} else {
 			format = CMF_EXTENDED;
diff --git a/drivers/s390/cio/css.c b/drivers/s390/cio/css.c
index 062716cf..ebed221 100644
--- a/drivers/s390/cio/css.c
+++ b/drivers/s390/cio/css.c
@@ -30,8 +30,6 @@
 
 struct channel_subsystem *channel_subsystems[__MAX_CSSID + 1];
 
-int css_characteristics_avail = 0;
-
 int
 for_each_subchannel(int(*fn)(struct subchannel_id, void *), void *data)
 {
@@ -611,7 +609,7 @@
 static void __init
 css_generate_pgid(struct channel_subsystem *css, u32 tod_high)
 {
-	if (css_characteristics_avail && css_general_characteristics.mcss) {
+	if (css_general_characteristics.mcss) {
 		css->global_pgid.pgid_high.ext_cssid.version = 0x80;
 		css->global_pgid.pgid_high.ext_cssid.cssid = css->cssid;
 	} else {
@@ -748,8 +746,6 @@
 	ret = chsc_determine_css_characteristics();
 	if (ret == -ENOMEM)
 		goto out; /* No need to continue. */
-	if (ret == 0)
-		css_characteristics_avail = 1;
 
 	ret = chsc_alloc_sei_area();
 	if (ret)
@@ -793,8 +789,7 @@
 		ret = device_register(&css->device);
 		if (ret)
 			goto out_free_all;
-		if (css_characteristics_avail &&
-		    css_chsc_characteristics.secm) {
+		if (css_chsc_characteristics.secm) {
 			ret = device_create_file(&css->device,
 						 &dev_attr_cm_enable);
 			if (ret)
@@ -832,7 +827,7 @@
 		i--;
 		css = channel_subsystems[i];
 		device_unregister(&css->pseudo_subchannel->dev);
-		if (css_characteristics_avail && css_chsc_characteristics.secm)
+		if (css_chsc_characteristics.secm)
 			device_remove_file(&css->device,
 					   &dev_attr_cm_enable);
 		device_unregister(&css->device);
@@ -956,4 +951,3 @@
 
 MODULE_LICENSE("GPL");
 EXPORT_SYMBOL(css_bus_type);
-EXPORT_SYMBOL_GPL(css_characteristics_avail);
diff --git a/drivers/s390/cio/qdio.c b/drivers/s390/cio/qdio.c
index 72508d8..f9be265 100644
--- a/drivers/s390/cio/qdio.c
+++ b/drivers/s390/cio/qdio.c
@@ -2354,9 +2354,6 @@
 {
 	char dbf_text[15];
 
-	if (!css_characteristics_avail)
-		return -EIO;
-
 	/* Check for bit 41. */
 	if (!css_general_characteristics.aif) {
 		QDIO_PRINT_WARN("Adapter interruption facility not " \