diff --git a/artiq/firmware/satman/main.rs b/artiq/firmware/satman/main.rs
index 1b9a4c53f..ed1cd238c 100644
--- a/artiq/firmware/satman/main.rs
+++ b/artiq/firmware/satman/main.rs
@@ -66,12 +66,6 @@ fn drtiosat_tsc_loaded() -> bool {
     }
 }
 
-fn drtiosat_async_ready() {
-    unsafe {
-        csr::drtiosat::async_messages_ready_write(1);
-    }
-}
-
 #[derive(Clone, Copy)]
 pub enum RtioMaster {
     Drtio,
@@ -252,12 +246,6 @@ fn process_aux_packet(dmamgr: &mut DmaManager, analyzer: &mut Analyzer, kernelmg
             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, probe } => {
             forward!(_routing_table, _destination, *rank, _repeaters, &packet);
             let value;
@@ -808,8 +796,8 @@ pub extern fn main() -> 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/artiq/firmware/satman/repeater.rs b/artiq/firmware/satman/repeater.rs
index 544527cda..cd18badc2 100644
--- a/artiq/firmware/satman/repeater.rs
+++ b/artiq/firmware/satman/repeater.rs
@@ -49,7 +49,7 @@ impl Repeater {
         self.state == RepeaterState::Up
     }
 
-    pub fn service(&mut self, routing_table: &drtio_routing::RoutingTable, rank: u8, destination: u8, router: &mut Router) {
+    pub fn service(&mut self, routing_table: &drtio_routing::RoutingTable, rank: u8, self_destination: u8, router: &mut Router) {
         self.process_local_errors();
 
         match self.state {
@@ -107,16 +107,11 @@ impl Repeater {
                 }
             }
             RepeaterState::Up => {
-                self.process_unsolicited_aux();
+                self.process_unsolicited_aux(routing_table, rank, self_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) {
-                        warn!("[REP#{}] Error handling async messages ({})", self.repno, e);
-                    }
-                }
             }
             RepeaterState::Failed => {
                 if !rep_link_rx_up(self.repno) {
@@ -127,9 +122,10 @@ impl Repeater {
         }
     }
 
-    fn process_unsolicited_aux(&self) {
+    fn process_unsolicited_aux(&self, routing_table: &drtio_routing::RoutingTable, 
+        rank: u8, self_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, self_destination),
             Ok(None) => (),
             Err(_) => warn!("[REP#{}] aux packet error", self.repno)
         }
@@ -185,28 +181,6 @@ 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
-    ) -> Result<(), drtioaux::Error<!>> {
-        loop {
-            drtioaux::send(self.auxno, &drtioaux::Packet::RoutingRetrievePackets).unwrap();
-            let reply = self.recv_aux_timeout(200)?;
-            match reply {
-                drtioaux::Packet::RoutingNoPackets => break,
-                packet => router.route(packet, routing_table, rank, self_destination)
-            }
-        }
-        Ok(())
-    }
-
     pub fn aux_forward(&self, request: &drtioaux::Packet) -> Result<(), drtioaux::Error<!>> {
         self.aux_send(request)?;
         let reply = self.recv_aux_timeout(200)?;
diff --git a/artiq/firmware/satman/routing.rs b/artiq/firmware/satman/routing.rs
index 169630dbd..cb17d6822 100644
--- a/artiq/firmware/satman/routing.rs
+++ b/artiq/firmware/satman/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,
         }
     }
 
@@ -155,21 +153,8 @@ 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
     }