diff --git a/protobufs b/protobufs
index 8d17bb245..f746cd8ad 160000
--- a/protobufs
+++ b/protobufs
@@ -1 +1 @@
-Subproject commit 8d17bb245298ec14f0a244945fa1970543a8e9a4
+Subproject commit f746cd8add18d4573ba2e06f3ea31408afb3e877
diff --git a/src/mesh/NodeDB.cpp b/src/mesh/NodeDB.cpp
index b1dd3d06d..cd3f25198 100644
--- a/src/mesh/NodeDB.cpp
+++ b/src/mesh/NodeDB.cpp
@@ -289,7 +289,6 @@ void NodeDB::installDefaultDeviceState()
     snprintf(owner.short_name, sizeof(owner.short_name), "%02x%02x", ourMacAddr[4], ourMacAddr[5]);
 
     snprintf(owner.id, sizeof(owner.id), "!%08x", getNodeNum()); // Default node ID now based on nodenum
-    memcpy(owner.macaddr, ourMacAddr, sizeof(owner.macaddr));
 }
 
 void NodeDB::init()
@@ -375,7 +374,7 @@ void NodeDB::pickNewNodeNum()
         r = NUM_RESERVED; // don't pick a reserved node number
 
     meshtastic_NodeInfo *found;
-    while ((found = getNode(r)) && memcmp(found->user.macaddr, owner.macaddr, sizeof(owner.macaddr))) {
+    while ((found = getNode(r))) {
         NodeNum n = random(NUM_RESERVED, NODENUM_BROADCAST); // try a new random choice
         LOG_DEBUG("NOTE! Our desired nodenum 0x%x is in use, so trying for 0x%x\n", r, n);
         r = n;
diff --git a/src/mesh/generated/meshtastic/mesh.pb.h b/src/mesh/generated/meshtastic/mesh.pb.h
index 62388e94e..25e977d3d 100644
--- a/src/mesh/generated/meshtastic/mesh.pb.h
+++ b/src/mesh/generated/meshtastic/mesh.pb.h
@@ -372,7 +372,8 @@ typedef struct _meshtastic_User {
     /* A VERY short name, ideally two characters.
  Suitable for a tiny OLED screen */
     char short_name[5];
-    /* This is the addr of the radio.
+    /* Deprecated in Meshtastic 2.1.x
+ This is the addr of the radio.
  Not populated by the phone, but added by the esp32 when broadcasting */
     pb_byte_t macaddr[6];
     /* TBEAM, HELTEC, etc...
diff --git a/src/modules/RangeTestModule.cpp b/src/modules/RangeTestModule.cpp
index 020535758..c1b1e4800 100644
--- a/src/modules/RangeTestModule.cpp
+++ b/src/modules/RangeTestModule.cpp
@@ -152,7 +152,6 @@ ProcessMessage RangeTestModuleRadio::handleReceived(const meshtastic_MeshPacket
             LOG_DEBUG("---- Node Information of Received Packet (mp.from):\n");
             LOG_DEBUG("n->user.long_name         %s\n", n->user.long_name);
             LOG_DEBUG("n->user.short_name        %s\n", n->user.short_name);
-            LOG_DEBUG("n->user.macaddr           %X\n", n->user.macaddr);
             LOG_DEBUG("n->has_position           %d\n", n->has_position);
             LOG_DEBUG("n->position.latitude_i    %d\n", n->position.latitude_i);
             LOG_DEBUG("n->position.longitude_i   %d\n", n->position.longitude_i);
@@ -192,7 +191,6 @@ bool RangeTestModuleRadio::appendFile(const meshtastic_MeshPacket &mp)
         LOG_DEBUG("---- Node Information of Received Packet (mp.from):\n");
         LOG_DEBUG("n->user.long_name         %s\n", n->user.long_name);
         LOG_DEBUG("n->user.short_name        %s\n", n->user.short_name);
-        LOG_DEBUG("n->user.macaddr           %X\n", n->user.macaddr);
         LOG_DEBUG("n->has_position           %d\n", n->has_position);
         LOG_DEBUG("n->position.latitude_i    %d\n", n->position.latitude_i);
         LOG_DEBUG("n->position.longitude_i   %d\n", n->position.longitude_i);