diff --git a/lix/libutil/serialise.cc b/lix/libutil/serialise.cc
index ea4f18243..04426a4bb 100644
--- a/lix/libutil/serialise.cc
+++ b/lix/libutil/serialise.cc
@@ -244,17 +244,6 @@ void readPadding(size_t len, Source & source)
     }
 }
 
-
-size_t readString(char * buf, size_t max, Source & source)
-{
-    auto len = readNum<size_t>(source);
-    if (len > max) throw SerialisationError("string is too long");
-    source(buf, len);
-    readPadding(len, source);
-    return len;
-}
-
-
 std::string readString(Source & source, size_t max)
 {
     auto len = readNum<size_t>(source);
diff --git a/lix/libutil/serialise.hh b/lix/libutil/serialise.hh
index aaf37fb3b..e89bca191 100644
--- a/lix/libutil/serialise.hh
+++ b/lix/libutil/serialise.hh
@@ -391,9 +391,7 @@ inline uint64_t readLongLong(Source & source)
     return readNum<uint64_t>(source);
 }
 
-
 void readPadding(size_t len, Source & source);
-size_t readString(char * buf, size_t max, Source & source);
 std::string readString(Source & source, size_t max = std::numeric_limits<size_t>::max());
 template<class T> T readStrings(Source & source);