diff --git a/src/main.cpp b/src/main.cpp
index 6bb81fab24..4b6872146c 100644
--- a/src/main.cpp
+++ b/src/main.cpp
@@ -5242,8 +5242,8 @@ bool static ProcessMessage(CNode* pfrom, string strCommand, CDataStream& vRecv,
     {
         pfrom->SetRecvVersion(min(pfrom->nVersion, PROTOCOL_VERSION));
 
-        // Mark this node as currently connected, so we update its timestamp later.
-        if (pfrom->fNetworkNode) {
+        if (!pfrom->fInbound) {
+            // Mark this node as currently connected, so we update its timestamp later.
             LOCK(cs_main);
             State(pfrom->GetId())->fCurrentlyConnected = true;
         }
diff --git a/src/net.cpp b/src/net.cpp
index ce87150ae3..08115a3518 100644
--- a/src/net.cpp
+++ b/src/net.cpp
@@ -1067,8 +1067,7 @@ void CConnman::ThreadSocketHandler()
                     pnode->CloseSocketDisconnect();
 
                     // hold in disconnected pool until all refs are released
-                    if (pnode->fNetworkNode || pnode->fInbound)
-                        pnode->Release();
+                    pnode->Release();
                     vNodesDisconnected.push_back(pnode);
                 }
             }
@@ -1808,7 +1807,6 @@ bool CConnman::OpenNetworkConnection(const CAddress& addrConnect, bool fCountFai
         return false;
     if (grantOutbound)
         grantOutbound->MoveTo(pnode->grantOutbound);
-    pnode->fNetworkNode = true;
     if (fOneShot)
         pnode->fOneShot = true;
     if (fFeeler)
@@ -2531,7 +2529,6 @@ CNode::CNode(NodeId idIn, ServiceFlags nLocalServicesIn, int nMyStartingHeightIn
     fOneShot = false;
     fClient = false; // set by version message
     fFeeler = false;
-    fNetworkNode = false;
     fSuccessfullyConnected = false;
     fDisconnect = false;
     nRefCount = 0;
diff --git a/src/net.h b/src/net.h
index a4a9fb676a..ebea488a4d 100644
--- a/src/net.h
+++ b/src/net.h
@@ -613,7 +613,6 @@ public:
     bool fOneShot;
     bool fClient;
     const bool fInbound;
-    bool fNetworkNode;
     bool fSuccessfullyConnected;
     bool fDisconnect;
     // We use fRelayTxes for two purposes -