diff --git a/src/util/symbol_table_base.h b/src/util/symbol_table_base.h
index 6a51a34a863..82c7298e43d 100644
--- a/src/util/symbol_table_base.h
+++ b/src/util/symbol_table_base.h
@@ -178,13 +178,6 @@ class symbol_table_baset
     {
       return &**this;
     }
-
-    symbolt &get_writeable_symbol(const irep_idt &identifier)
-    {
-      if(on_get_writeable)
-        on_get_writeable((*this)->first);
-      return it->second;
-    }
   };
 
   virtual iteratort begin() = 0;