diff --git a/src/simitembase.cpp b/src/simitembase.cpp
--- a/src/simitembase.cpp
+++ b/src/simitembase.cpp
@@ -27,16 +27,11 @@ static const std::string _module_id("$Id
 
 SimItemBase::SimItemBase( void *v, QGraphicsScene *canvas )
 {
-  canvas = NULL; // use assignment merely to obviate compilation warning
   obj=v;
 };
 
 SimItemBase::~SimItemBase(void) {};
 
-
-void SimItemBase::userMove(double dx, double dy)
-{
-  dx = dy = 0.0; // use assignment merely to obviate compilation warning
-};
+void SimItemBase::userMove(double dx, double dy){};
 
 /* finis */