diff --git a/xwords4/android/XWords4/src/org/eehouse/android/xw4/BTService.java b/xwords4/android/XWords4/src/org/eehouse/android/xw4/BTService.java
index 61fa0fab9..223b1244f 100644
--- a/xwords4/android/XWords4/src/org/eehouse/android/xw4/BTService.java
+++ b/xwords4/android/XWords4/src/org/eehouse/android/xw4/BTService.java
@@ -505,10 +505,6 @@ public class BTService extends Service {
                             DbgUtils.logf( "nobody took msg for gameID %X", 
                                            gameID );
                         }
-                        // duplicate in case recipient modifies the msg
-                        if ( 1 < rowids.length ) {
-                            buffer = (byte[])buffer.clone();
-                        }
                     }
                 } else {
                     DbgUtils.logf( "receiveMessages: read only %d of %d bytes",
diff --git a/xwords4/android/XWords4/src/org/eehouse/android/xw4/SMSService.java b/xwords4/android/XWords4/src/org/eehouse/android/xw4/SMSService.java
index 4453f1945..7ce8681e5 100644
--- a/xwords4/android/XWords4/src/org/eehouse/android/xw4/SMSService.java
+++ b/xwords4/android/XWords4/src/org/eehouse/android/xw4/SMSService.java
@@ -560,9 +560,6 @@ public class SMSService extends Service {
                                           );
                     }
                 }
-                if ( 1 < rowids.length ) {
-                    msg = (byte[])msg.clone();
-                }
             }
         }
     }