diff --git a/testnet/stacks-node/src/syncctl.rs b/testnet/stacks-node/src/syncctl.rs
index 7df2db53e..71af6b477 100644
--- a/testnet/stacks-node/src/syncctl.rs
+++ b/testnet/stacks-node/src/syncctl.rs
@@ -55,10 +55,6 @@ impl PoxSyncWatchdogComms {
         self.download_passes.load(Ordering::SeqCst)
     }
 
-    pub fn get_burnchain_tip_height(&self) -> u64 {
-        self.burnchain_tip_height.load(Ordering::SeqCst)
-    }
-
     pub fn get_ibd(&self) -> bool {
         self.last_ibd.load(Ordering::SeqCst)
     }
@@ -122,10 +118,6 @@ impl PoxSyncWatchdogComms {
         self.download_passes.fetch_add(1, Ordering::SeqCst);
     }
 
-    pub fn set_burnchain_tip_height(&mut self, height: u64) {
-        self.download_passes.store(height, Ordering::SeqCst);
-    }
-
     pub fn set_ibd(&mut self, value: bool) {
         self.last_ibd.store(value, Ordering::SeqCst);
     }
@@ -421,8 +413,8 @@ impl PoxSyncWatchdog {
     pub fn pox_sync_wait(
         &mut self,
         burnchain: &Burnchain,
-        burnchain_tip: &BurnchainTip,
-        burnchain_height: u64,
+        burnchain_tip: &BurnchainTip, // this is the highest burnchain snapshot we've sync'ed to
+        burnchain_height: u64,        // this is the absolute burnchain block height
         num_sortitions_in_last_cycle: u64,
     ) -> bool {
         if self.watch_start_ts == 0 {
@@ -433,10 +425,6 @@ impl PoxSyncWatchdog {
                 get_epoch_time_secs() + self.steady_state_burnchain_sync_interval;
         }
 
-        // inform any listeners about the new burnchain height
-        self.relayer_comms
-            .set_burnchain_tip_height(burnchain_height);
-
         let ibbd = PoxSyncWatchdog::infer_initial_burnchain_block_download(
             burnchain,
             burnchain_tip.block_snapshot.block_height,