diff --git a/configure.ac b/configure.ac
index e05aa6ac8..e7f797608 100644
--- a/configure.ac
+++ b/configure.ac
@@ -262,34 +262,21 @@ AS_IF([test "x$enable_gcov" = "xyes"], [
   AC_DEFINE([USE_GCOV], [0], [0 to leave coverage collection disabled.])
 ])
 
-# set default verbose options, overridden by following options
-debug_usb_io=no
+# set default for debug_usb_comms, overridden by following options
 debug_usb_comms=no
 
 AC_ARG_ENABLE([verbose],
   AS_HELP_STRING([--enable-verbose],
       [Enable verbose JTAG I/O messages (for debugging).]),
   [
-  debug_usb_io=$enableval
   debug_usb_comms=$enableval
   ], [])
 
-AC_ARG_ENABLE([verbose_usb_io],
-  AS_HELP_STRING([--enable-verbose-usb-io],
-      [Enable verbose USB I/O messages (for debugging)]),
-  [debug_usb_io=$enableval], [])
-
 AC_ARG_ENABLE([verbose_usb_comms],
   AS_HELP_STRING([--enable-verbose-usb-comms],
       [Enable verbose USB communication messages (for debugging)]),
   [debug_usb_comms=$enableval], [])
 
-AC_MSG_CHECKING([whether to enable verbose USB I/O messages]);
-AC_MSG_RESULT([$debug_usb_io])
-AS_IF([test "x$debug_usb_io" = "xyes"], [
-  AC_DEFINE([_DEBUG_USB_IO_],[1], [Print verbose USB I/O messages])
-])
-
 AC_MSG_CHECKING([whether to enable verbose USB communication messages]);
 AC_MSG_RESULT([$debug_usb_comms])
 AS_IF([test "x$debug_usb_comms" = "xyes"], [