diff --git a/src/amd/compiler/aco_dead_code_analysis.cpp b/src/amd/compiler/aco_dead_code_analysis.cpp
index 4555be58947..e1dbcd53621 100644
--- a/src/amd/compiler/aco_dead_code_analysis.cpp
+++ b/src/amd/compiler/aco_dead_code_analysis.cpp
@@ -91,11 +91,6 @@ dead_code_analysis(Program* program)
       process_block(ctx, program->blocks[next_block]);
    }
 
-   /* add one use to exec to prevent startpgm from being removed */
-   aco_ptr<Instruction>& startpgm = program->blocks[0].instructions[0];
-   assert(startpgm->opcode == aco_opcode::p_startpgm);
-   ctx.uses[startpgm->definitions.back().tempId()]++;
-
    return ctx.uses;
 }
 
diff --git a/src/amd/compiler/aco_ir.h b/src/amd/compiler/aco_ir.h
index 563004ed58a..e99922896c3 100644
--- a/src/amd/compiler/aco_ir.h
+++ b/src/amd/compiler/aco_ir.h
@@ -1784,6 +1784,7 @@ inline bool
 is_dead(const std::vector<uint16_t>& uses, const Instruction* instr)
 {
    if (instr->definitions.empty() || instr->isBranch() ||
+       instr->opcode == aco_opcode::p_startpgm ||
        instr->opcode == aco_opcode::p_init_scratch ||
        instr->opcode == aco_opcode::p_dual_src_export_gfx11)
       return false;