diff --git a/drivers/rtc/rtc-r9701.c b/drivers/rtc/rtc-r9701.c
index eb00879f7c9a..f8f7044ff808 100644
--- a/drivers/rtc/rtc-r9701.c
+++ b/drivers/rtc/rtc-r9701.c
@@ -115,7 +115,6 @@ static const struct rtc_class_ops r9701_rtc_ops = {
 static int r9701_probe(struct spi_device *spi)
 {
 	struct rtc_device *rtc;
-	struct rtc_time dt;
 	unsigned char tmp;
 	int res;
 
@@ -126,27 +125,6 @@ static int r9701_probe(struct spi_device *spi)
 		return -ENODEV;
 	}
 
-	/*
-	 * The device seems to be present. Now check if the registers
-	 * contain invalid values. If so, try to write a default date:
-	 * 2000/1/1 00:00:00
-	 */
-	if (r9701_get_datetime(&spi->dev, &dt)) {
-		dev_info(&spi->dev, "trying to repair invalid date/time\n");
-		dt.tm_sec  = 0;
-		dt.tm_min  = 0;
-		dt.tm_hour = 0;
-		dt.tm_mday = 1;
-		dt.tm_mon  = 0;
-		dt.tm_year = 100;
-
-		if (r9701_set_datetime(&spi->dev, &dt) ||
-				r9701_get_datetime(&spi->dev, &dt)) {
-			dev_err(&spi->dev, "cannot repair RTC register\n");
-			return -ENODEV;
-		}
-	}
-
 	rtc = devm_rtc_device_register(&spi->dev, "r9701",
 				&r9701_rtc_ops, THIS_MODULE);
 	if (IS_ERR(rtc))