diff --git a/src/satman/src/main.rs b/src/satman/src/main.rs
index 2a588b9..bb41fda 100644
--- a/src/satman/src/main.rs
+++ b/src/satman/src/main.rs
@@ -81,12 +81,6 @@ fn drtiosat_tsc_loaded() -> bool {
     }
 }
 
-fn drtiosat_async_ready() {
-    unsafe {
-        csr::drtiosat::async_messages_ready_write(1);
-    }
-}
-
 #[cfg(has_drtio_routing)]
 macro_rules! forward {
     ($routing_table:expr, $destination:expr, $rank:expr, $repeaters:expr, $packet:expr, $timer:expr) => {{
@@ -245,14 +239,6 @@ fn process_aux_packet(
         #[cfg(not(has_drtio_routing))]
         drtioaux::Packet::RoutingSetRank { rank: _ } => drtioaux::send(0, &drtioaux::Packet::RoutingAck),
 
-        drtioaux::Packet::RoutingRetrievePackets => {
-            let packet = router
-                .get_upstream_packet()
-                .or(Some(drtioaux::Packet::RoutingNoPackets))
-                .unwrap();
-            drtioaux::send(0, &packet)
-        }
-
         drtioaux::Packet::MonitorRequest {
             destination: _destination,
             channel,
@@ -1067,8 +1053,8 @@ pub extern "C" fn main_core0() -> i32 {
                 }
             }
 
-            if router.any_upstream_waiting() {
-                drtiosat_async_ready();
+            if let Some(packet) = router.get_upstream_packet() {
+                drtioaux::send(0, &packet).unwrap();
             }
         }
 
diff --git a/src/satman/src/repeater.rs b/src/satman/src/repeater.rs
index e7f6b78..8c00e58 100644
--- a/src/satman/src/repeater.rs
+++ b/src/satman/src/repeater.rs
@@ -119,16 +119,11 @@ impl Repeater {
                 }
             }
             RepeaterState::Up => {
-                self.process_unsolicited_aux();
+                self.process_unsolicited_aux(routing_table, rank, destination, router);
                 if !rep_link_rx_up(self.repno) {
                     info!("[REP#{}] link is down", self.repno);
                     self.state = RepeaterState::Down;
                 }
-                if self.async_messages_ready() {
-                    if let Err(e) = self.handle_async(routing_table, rank, destination, router, timer) {
-                        warn!("[REP#{}] Error handling async messages ({:?})", self.repno, e);
-                    }
-                }
             }
             RepeaterState::Failed => {
                 if !rep_link_rx_up(self.repno) {
@@ -139,9 +134,15 @@ impl Repeater {
         }
     }
 
-    fn process_unsolicited_aux(&self) {
+    fn process_unsolicited_aux(
+        &self,
+        routing_table: &drtio_routing::RoutingTable,
+        rank: u8,
+        destination: u8,
+        router: &mut Router,
+    ) {
         match drtioaux::recv(self.auxno) {
-            Ok(Some(packet)) => warn!("[REP#{}] unsolicited aux packet: {:?}", self.repno, packet),
+            Ok(Some(packet)) => router.route(packet, routing_table, rank, destination),
             Ok(None) => (),
             Err(_) => warn!("[REP#{}] aux packet error", self.repno),
         }
@@ -186,34 +187,6 @@ impl Repeater {
         }
     }
 
-    fn async_messages_ready(&self) -> bool {
-        let async_rdy;
-        unsafe {
-            async_rdy = (csr::DRTIOREP[self.repno as usize].async_messages_ready_read)();
-            (csr::DRTIOREP[self.repno as usize].async_messages_ready_write)(0);
-        }
-        async_rdy == 1
-    }
-
-    fn handle_async(
-        &self,
-        routing_table: &drtio_routing::RoutingTable,
-        rank: u8,
-        self_destination: u8,
-        router: &mut Router,
-        timer: &mut GlobalTimer,
-    ) -> Result<(), drtioaux::Error> {
-        loop {
-            drtioaux::send(self.auxno, &drtioaux::Packet::RoutingRetrievePackets).unwrap();
-            let reply = self.recv_aux_timeout(200, timer)?;
-            match reply {
-                drtioaux::Packet::RoutingNoPackets => break,
-                packet => router.route(packet, routing_table, rank, self_destination),
-            }
-        }
-        Ok(())
-    }
-
     fn recv_aux_timeout(&self, timeout: u32, timer: &mut GlobalTimer) -> Result<drtioaux::Packet, drtioaux::Error> {
         let max_time = timer.get_time() + Milliseconds(timeout.into());
         loop {
diff --git a/src/satman/src/routing.rs b/src/satman/src/routing.rs
index 46f8e7f..3276444 100644
--- a/src/satman/src/routing.rs
+++ b/src/satman/src/routing.rs
@@ -75,7 +75,6 @@ pub struct Router {
     local_queue: VecDeque<drtioaux::Packet>,
     #[cfg(has_drtio_routing)]
     downstream_queue: VecDeque<(usize, drtioaux::Packet)>,
-    upstream_notified: bool,
 }
 
 impl Router {
@@ -85,7 +84,6 @@ impl Router {
             local_queue: VecDeque::new(),
             #[cfg(has_drtio_routing)]
             downstream_queue: VecDeque::new(),
-            upstream_notified: false,
         }
     }
 
@@ -161,22 +159,8 @@ impl Router {
         }
     }
 
-    pub fn any_upstream_waiting(&mut self) -> bool {
-        let empty = self.upstream_queue.is_empty();
-        if !empty && !self.upstream_notified {
-            self.upstream_notified = true; // so upstream will not get spammed with notifications
-            true
-        } else {
-            false
-        }
-    }
-
     pub fn get_upstream_packet(&mut self) -> Option<drtioaux::Packet> {
-        let packet = self.upstream_queue.pop_front();
-        if packet.is_none() {
-            self.upstream_notified = false;
-        }
-        packet
+        self.upstream_queue.pop_front()
     }
 
     #[cfg(has_drtio_routing)]