diff --git a/src/drivers/drv_accel.h b/src/drivers/drv_accel.h
index 63886530dc..ef19427983 100644
--- a/src/drivers/drv_accel.h
+++ b/src/drivers/drv_accel.h
@@ -76,7 +76,4 @@ struct accel_calibration_s {
 /** set the accel scaling constants to the structure pointed to by (arg) */
 #define ACCELIOCSSCALE		_ACCELIOC(5)
 
-/** determine if hardware is external or onboard */
-#define ACCELIOCGEXTERNAL	_ACCELIOC(12)
-
 #endif /* _DRV_ACCEL_H */
diff --git a/src/drivers/imu/mpu6000/mpu6000.cpp b/src/drivers/imu/mpu6000/mpu6000.cpp
index 2953132ec6..33965eec7a 100644
--- a/src/drivers/imu/mpu6000/mpu6000.cpp
+++ b/src/drivers/imu/mpu6000/mpu6000.cpp
@@ -373,11 +373,7 @@ private:
 	 *
 	 * @return true if the sensor is not on the main MCU board
 	 */
-	bool			is_external()
-	{
-		unsigned dummy;
-		return _interface->ioctl(ACCELIOCGEXTERNAL, dummy);
-	}
+	bool			is_external() { return _interface->external(); }
 
 	/**
 	 * Measurement self test
@@ -1263,8 +1259,6 @@ MPU6000::gyro_read(struct file *filp, char *buffer, size_t buflen)
 int
 MPU6000::ioctl(struct file *filp, int cmd, unsigned long arg)
 {
-	unsigned dummy = arg;
-
 	switch (cmd) {
 
 	case SENSORIOCRESET:
@@ -1380,9 +1374,6 @@ MPU6000::ioctl(struct file *filp, int cmd, unsigned long arg)
 			}
 		}
 
-	case ACCELIOCGEXTERNAL:
-		return _interface->ioctl(cmd, dummy);
-
 	default:
 		/* give it to the superclass */
 		return CDev::ioctl(filp, cmd, arg);
diff --git a/src/drivers/imu/mpu6000/mpu6000_i2c.cpp b/src/drivers/imu/mpu6000/mpu6000_i2c.cpp
index 190bc24bb1..cfb1b8870d 100644
--- a/src/drivers/imu/mpu6000/mpu6000_i2c.cpp
+++ b/src/drivers/imu/mpu6000/mpu6000_i2c.cpp
@@ -102,10 +102,6 @@ MPU6000_I2C::ioctl(unsigned operation, unsigned &arg)
 	int ret;
 
 	switch (operation) {
-
-	case ACCELIOCGEXTERNAL:
-		return external();
-
 	case DEVIOCGDEVICEID:
 		return CDev::ioctl(nullptr, operation, arg);
 
diff --git a/src/drivers/imu/mpu6000/mpu6000_spi.cpp b/src/drivers/imu/mpu6000/mpu6000_spi.cpp
index 2261e1bb86..1a8e21229a 100644
--- a/src/drivers/imu/mpu6000/mpu6000_spi.cpp
+++ b/src/drivers/imu/mpu6000/mpu6000_spi.cpp
@@ -234,12 +234,6 @@ MPU6000_SPI::ioctl(unsigned operation, unsigned &arg)
 	int ret;
 
 	switch (operation) {
-
-	case ACCELIOCGEXTERNAL:
-		external();
-
-	/* FALLTHROUGH */
-
 	case DEVIOCGDEVICEID:
 		return CDev::ioctl(nullptr, operation, arg);
 
diff --git a/src/drivers/imu/mpu9250/mag_i2c.cpp b/src/drivers/imu/mpu9250/mag_i2c.cpp
index 3f0bb4f225..a3c163ea4a 100644
--- a/src/drivers/imu/mpu9250/mag_i2c.cpp
+++ b/src/drivers/imu/mpu9250/mag_i2c.cpp
@@ -100,10 +100,6 @@ AK8963_I2C::ioctl(unsigned operation, unsigned &arg)
 	int ret;
 
 	switch (operation) {
-
-	case ACCELIOCGEXTERNAL:
-		return external();
-
 	case DEVIOCGDEVICEID:
 		return CDev::ioctl(nullptr, operation, arg);
 
diff --git a/src/drivers/imu/mpu9250/mpu9250.h b/src/drivers/imu/mpu9250/mpu9250.h
index 866662569e..3939e95270 100644
--- a/src/drivers/imu/mpu9250/mpu9250.h
+++ b/src/drivers/imu/mpu9250/mpu9250.h
@@ -490,11 +490,7 @@ private:
 	 *
 	 * @return true if the sensor is not on the main MCU board
 	 */
-	bool			is_external()
-	{
-		unsigned dummy;
-		return _interface->ioctl(ACCELIOCGEXTERNAL, dummy);
-	}
+	bool			is_external() { return _interface->external(); }
 
 	/**
 	 * Measurement self test
diff --git a/src/drivers/imu/mpu9250/mpu9250_i2c.cpp b/src/drivers/imu/mpu9250/mpu9250_i2c.cpp
index 2b3bf0f5a5..0279d28a12 100644
--- a/src/drivers/imu/mpu9250/mpu9250_i2c.cpp
+++ b/src/drivers/imu/mpu9250/mpu9250_i2c.cpp
@@ -97,10 +97,6 @@ MPU9250_I2C::ioctl(unsigned operation, unsigned &arg)
 	int ret = PX4_ERROR;
 
 	switch (operation) {
-
-	case ACCELIOCGEXTERNAL:
-		return external();
-
 	case DEVIOCGDEVICEID:
 		return CDev::ioctl(nullptr, operation, arg);
 
diff --git a/src/drivers/imu/mpu9250/mpu9250_spi.cpp b/src/drivers/imu/mpu9250/mpu9250_spi.cpp
index 6f3279b291..de62326344 100644
--- a/src/drivers/imu/mpu9250/mpu9250_spi.cpp
+++ b/src/drivers/imu/mpu9250/mpu9250_spi.cpp
@@ -130,12 +130,6 @@ MPU9250_SPI::ioctl(unsigned operation, unsigned &arg)
 	int ret;
 
 	switch (operation) {
-
-	case ACCELIOCGEXTERNAL:
-		external();
-
-	/* FALLTHROUGH */
-
 	case DEVIOCGDEVICEID:
 		return CDev::ioctl(nullptr, operation, arg);