diff --git a/artiq/gui/tools.py b/artiq/gui/tools.py
index 0e6d96b02..4adc1be39 100644
--- a/artiq/gui/tools.py
+++ b/artiq/gui/tools.py
@@ -94,8 +94,6 @@ class DictSyncer:
         raise KeyError
 
     def __setitem__(self, key, value):
-        if hasattr(self, "data"):
-            data[key] = value
         try:
             i = self._find_index(key)
         except KeyError: