diff --git a/qutebrowser/utils/utils.py b/qutebrowser/utils/utils.py
index 3c052f939..0b527637e 100644
--- a/qutebrowser/utils/utils.py
+++ b/qutebrowser/utils/utils.py
@@ -860,11 +860,6 @@ def open_file(filename, cmdline=None):
     proc.start_detached(cmd, args)
 
 
-def unused(_arg):
-    """Function which does nothing to avoid pylint complaining."""
-    pass
-
-
 def expand_windows_drive(path):
     r"""Expand a drive-path like E: into E:\.
 
diff --git a/tests/unit/utils/test_utils.py b/tests/unit/utils/test_utils.py
index 33e881c22..4b03dcf8c 100644
--- a/tests/unit/utils/test_utils.py
+++ b/tests/unit/utils/test_utils.py
@@ -925,10 +925,6 @@ class TestOpenFile:
         m.assert_called_with(QUrl('file:///foo/bar'))
 
 
-def test_unused():
-    utils.unused(None)
-
-
 @pytest.mark.parametrize('path, expected', [
     ('E:', 'E:\\'),
     ('e:', 'e:\\'),