diff --git a/src/xkb-priv.h b/src/xkb-priv.h
index b58ecc1..7a99ab7 100644
--- a/src/xkb-priv.h
+++ b/src/xkb-priv.h
@@ -333,7 +333,6 @@ struct xkb_names {
 };
 
 struct xkb_controls {
-    unsigned char num_groups;
     /* unsigned char groups_wrap; */
     /* struct xkb_mods internal; */
     /* struct xkb_mods ignore_lock; */
diff --git a/src/xkbcomp/symbols.c b/src/xkbcomp/symbols.c
index 1df5531..1c7396c 100644
--- a/src/xkbcomp/symbols.c
+++ b/src/xkbcomp/symbols.c
@@ -2029,9 +2029,6 @@ CopySymbolsDef(struct xkb_keymap *keymap, KeyInfo *key, int start_from)
         keymap->server->explicit[kc] |= XkbExplicitAutoRepeatMask;
     }
 
-    if (nGroups > keymap->ctrls->num_groups)
-	keymap->ctrls->num_groups = nGroups;
-
     /* do the same thing for the next key */
     CopySymbolsDef(keymap, key, kc + 1);
     return true;