diff --git a/hscontrol/db/node.go b/hscontrol/db/node.go
index b49a6ba3..08b6d233 100644
--- a/hscontrol/db/node.go
+++ b/hscontrol/db/node.go
@@ -293,12 +293,6 @@ func (hsdb *HSDatabase) DeleteEphemeralNode(
 	})
 }
 
-// SetLastSeen sets a node's last seen field indicating that we
-// have recently communicating with this node.
-func SetLastSeen(tx *gorm.DB, nodeID types.NodeID, lastSeen time.Time) error {
-	return tx.Model(&types.Node{}).Where("id = ?", nodeID).Update("last_seen", lastSeen).Error
-}
-
 // HandleNodeFromAuthPath is called from the OIDC or CLI auth path
 // with a registrationID to register or reauthenticate a node.
 // If the node found in the registration cache is not already registered,
diff --git a/hscontrol/poll.go b/hscontrol/poll.go
index 3802401f..b9088658 100644
--- a/hscontrol/poll.go
+++ b/hscontrol/poll.go
@@ -9,14 +9,12 @@ import (
 	"slices"
 	"time"
 
-	"github.com/juanfont/headscale/hscontrol/db"
 	"github.com/juanfont/headscale/hscontrol/mapper"
 	"github.com/juanfont/headscale/hscontrol/types"
 	"github.com/juanfont/headscale/hscontrol/util"
 	"github.com/rs/zerolog/log"
 	"github.com/sasha-s/go-deadlock"
 	xslices "golang.org/x/exp/slices"
-	"gorm.io/gorm"
 	"tailscale.com/net/tsaddr"
 	"tailscale.com/tailcfg"
 )
@@ -406,15 +404,6 @@ func (h *Headscale) updateNodeOnlineStatus(online bool, node *types.Node) {
 		// lastSeen is only relevant if the node is disconnected.
 		node.LastSeen = &now
 		change.LastSeen = &now
-
-		err := h.db.Write(func(tx *gorm.DB) error {
-			return db.SetLastSeen(tx, node.ID, *node.LastSeen)
-		})
-		if err != nil {
-			log.Error().Err(err).Msg("Cannot update node LastSeen")
-
-			return
-		}
 	}
 
 	ctx := types.NotifyCtx(context.Background(), "poll-nodeupdate-onlinestatus", node.Hostname)
diff --git a/hscontrol/types/node.go b/hscontrol/types/node.go
index 6654cefd..151f43cc 100644
--- a/hscontrol/types/node.go
+++ b/hscontrol/types/node.go
@@ -88,8 +88,11 @@ type Node struct {
 	AuthKeyID *uint64 `sql:"DEFAULT:NULL"`
 	AuthKey   *PreAuthKey
 
-	LastSeen *time.Time
-	Expiry   *time.Time
+	Expiry *time.Time
+
+	// LastSeen is when the node was last in contact with
+	// headscale. It is best effort and not persisted.
+	LastSeen *time.Time `gorm:"-"`
 
 	// DEPRECATED: Use the ApprovedRoutes field instead.
 	// TODO(kradalby): remove when ApprovedRoutes is used all over the code.