diff --git a/examples/companion_radio/DataStore.cpp b/examples/companion_radio/DataStore.cpp
index 058389fe..00e25cb2 100644
--- a/examples/companion_radio/DataStore.cpp
+++ b/examples/companion_radio/DataStore.cpp
@@ -200,11 +200,6 @@ void DataStore::loadPrefsInt(const char *filename, NodePrefs& _prefs, double& no
   File file = openRead(_fs, filename);
   if (file) {
     uint8_t pad[8];
-    
-    // Initialize defaults for any missing fields (backward compatibility)
-    memset(&_prefs, 0, sizeof(_prefs));
-    node_lat = 0.0;
-    node_lon = 0.0;
 
     file.read((uint8_t *)&_prefs.airtime_factor, sizeof(float));                           // 0
     file.read((uint8_t *)_prefs.node_name, sizeof(_prefs.node_name));                      // 4