diff --git a/scripts/combineCards.py b/scripts/combineCards.py
index b00ce74d708..0906f6574ab 100755
--- a/scripts/combineCards.py
+++ b/scripts/combineCards.py
@@ -392,6 +392,15 @@ def compareParamSystLines(a, b):
 if process_errors:
     raise RuntimeError("ERROR: mismatch between process signal labels:\n%s" % ("\n".join(process_errors)))
 
+# Remove systematics that don't affect any process/channel in the combination
+removed_systs = {name for name, (pdf, pdfargs, effect, nofloat) in systlines.items() if not any(effect.get(b, {}).get(p, "-") != "-" for b, p, s in keyline)}
+for name in removed_systs:
+    del systlines[name]
+
+# Remove pruned systematics from groups - leave all other group members untouched
+if removed_systs:
+    groups = {gname: nuisanceNames - removed_systs for gname, nuisanceNames in groups.items() if nuisanceNames - removed_systs}
+
 print("Combination of", "  ".join(args))
 print("imax %d number of bins" % len(bins))
 print("jmax %d number of processes minus 1" % (len(signals) + len(backgrounds) - 1))