diff --git a/test/functional/test_framework/mininode.py b/test/functional/test_framework/mininode.py
--- a/test/functional/test_framework/mininode.py
+++ b/test/functional/test_framework/mininode.py
@@ -20,7 +20,6 @@
 import socket
 import struct
 import sys
-import time
 from threading import RLock, Thread
 
 from test_framework.messages import *
@@ -235,7 +234,6 @@
         self.socket.setsockopt(socket.IPPROTO_TCP, socket.TCP_NODELAY, 1)
         self.sendbuf = b""
         self.recvbuf = b""
-        self.last_sent = 0
         self.state = "connecting"
         self.network = net
         self.cb = callback
@@ -336,8 +334,6 @@
             raise
 
     def got_message(self, message):
-        if self.last_sent + 30 * 60 < time.time():
-            self.send_message(MESSAGEMAP[b'ping']())
         self._log_message("receive", message)
         self.cb.deliver(self, message)
 
@@ -389,7 +385,6 @@
                     self.sendbuf = tmsg
             else:
                 self.sendbuf += tmsg
-            self.last_sent = time.time()
 
     # Class utility methods