diff --git a/RFM69.cpp b/RFM69.cpp
index c8a9707..81cf4e6 100644
--- a/RFM69.cpp
+++ b/RFM69.cpp
@@ -90,9 +90,6 @@ bool RFM69::initialize(uint8_t freqBand, uint8_t nodeID, uint8_t networkID)
   digitalWrite(_slaveSelectPin, HIGH);
   pinMode(_slaveSelectPin, OUTPUT);
   SPI.begin();
-#ifdef SPI_HAS_TRANSACTION
-  _settings = SPISettings(4000000, MSBFIRST, SPI_MODE0);
-#endif
   unsigned long start = millis();
   uint8_t timeout = 50;
   do writeReg(REG_SYNCVALUE1, 0xAA); while (readReg(REG_SYNCVALUE1) != 0xaa && millis()-start < timeout);
@@ -377,27 +374,18 @@ void RFM69::receiveBegin() {
 bool RFM69::receiveDone() {
 //ATOMIC_BLOCK(ATOMIC_FORCEON)
 //{
-  uint8_t rd_SREG = SREG;
-  noInterrupts(); 
-  // Note: New SPI library prefers to use EIMSK (external interrupt mask) if available 
-  // to mask (only) interrupts registered via SPI::usingInterrupt(). It only 
-  // falls back to disabling ALL interrupts SREG if EIMSK cannot be used.
-  // Hence We cannot assume that methods calls below that call select() unselect() 
-  // will result in a call to reenable interrupts(). 
-  // Thus the code below needs to explicitly do this to be safe.
+  noInterrupts(); // re-enabled in unselect() via setMode() or via receiveBegin()
   if (_mode == RF69_MODE_RX && PAYLOADLEN > 0)
   {
-    setMode(RF69_MODE_STANDBY); 
-    SREG = rd_SREG; // restore interrupts
+    setMode(RF69_MODE_STANDBY); // enables interrupts
     return true;
   }
   else if (_mode == RF69_MODE_RX) // already in RX no payload yet
   {
-    SREG = rd_SREG; // restore interrupts
+    interrupts(); // explicitly re-enable interrupts
     return false;
   }
   receiveBegin();
-  SREG = rd_SREG; // restore interrupts
   return false;
 //}
 }
@@ -451,48 +439,28 @@ void RFM69::writeReg(uint8_t addr, uint8_t value)
 
 // select the RFM69 transceiver (save SPI settings, set CS low)
 void RFM69::select() {
-#ifdef SPI_HAS_TRANSACTION
-  #if defined (SPCR) && defined (SPSR)
-    _SPCR = SPCR;
-    _SPSR = SPSR;
-  #endif
-  SPI.beginTransaction(_settings);
-#else
-  _SREG = SREG;
   noInterrupts();
-  #if defined (SPCR) && defined (SPSR)
-    // save current SPI settings
-    _SPCR = SPCR;
-    _SPSR = SPSR;
-  #endif
+#if defined (SPCR) && defined (SPSR)
+  // save current SPI settings
+  _SPCR = SPCR;
+  _SPSR = SPSR;
+#endif
   // set RFM69 SPI settings
   SPI.setDataMode(SPI_MODE0);
   SPI.setBitOrder(MSBFIRST);
   SPI.setClockDivider(SPI_CLOCK_DIV4); // decided to slow down from DIV2 after SPI stalling in some instances, especially visible on mega1284p when RFM69 and FLASH chip both present
-#endif
   digitalWrite(_slaveSelectPin, LOW);
 }
 
 // unselect the RFM69 transceiver (set CS high, restore SPI settings)
 void RFM69::unselect() {
   digitalWrite(_slaveSelectPin, HIGH);
-#ifdef SPI_HAS_TRANSACTION
-  SPI.endTransaction();
   // restore SPI settings to what they were before talking to RFM69
-  #if defined (SPCR) && defined (SPSR)
-    SPCR = _SPCR;
-    SPSR = _SPSR;
-  #endif
-#else
-  // restore SPI settings to what they were before talking to RFM69
-  #if defined (SPCR) && defined (SPSR)
-    SPCR = _SPCR;
-    SPSR = _SPSR;
-  #endif
-  // restore the prior interrupt state
-  SREG = _SREG;
+#if defined (SPCR) && defined (SPSR)
+  SPCR = _SPCR;
+  SPSR = _SPSR;
 #endif
-
+  interrupts();
 }
 
 // true  = disable filtering to capture all frames on network
diff --git a/RFM69.h b/RFM69.h
index 3d4a45b..d90cab4 100644
--- a/RFM69.h
+++ b/RFM69.h
@@ -142,10 +142,6 @@ class RFM69 {
     uint8_t _SPCR;
     uint8_t _SPSR;
 #endif
-#ifndef SPI_HAS_TRANSACTION
-    uint8_t _SREG; // Saves the Interrupt state before disabling
-    SPISettings _settings;
-#endif
 
     virtual void receiveBegin();
     virtual void setMode(uint8_t mode);