diff --git a/src/kernel/config.c b/src/kernel/config.c
index 4075621f3..9858e2f8b 100644
--- a/src/kernel/config.c
+++ b/src/kernel/config.c
@@ -516,6 +516,7 @@ int rule_give(void)
     static int config;
     static int rule;
     if (config_changed(&config)) {
+        /* TODO: No game uses this. Eliminate? */
         rule = config_get_int("rules.give.flags", GIVE_DEFAULT);
     }
     return rule;
diff --git a/src/kernel/unit.c b/src/kernel/unit.c
index 9933899ed..f8e737587 100644
--- a/src/kernel/unit.c
+++ b/src/kernel/unit.c
@@ -221,19 +221,9 @@ int gift_items(unit * u, int flags)
     region *r = u->region;
     item **itm_p = &u->items;
     int retval = 0;
-    int rule = rule_give();
 
     assert(u->region);
 
-    if ((rule & GIVE_ONDEATH) == 0 || !u->faction || (u->faction->flags & FFL_QUIT) == 0) {
-        if ((rule & GIVE_ALLITEMS) == 0 && (flags & GIFT_FRIENDS))
-            flags -= GIFT_FRIENDS;
-        if ((rule & GIVE_PEASANTS) == 0 && (flags & GIFT_PEASANTS))
-            flags -= GIFT_PEASANTS;
-        if ((rule & GIVE_SELF) == 0 && (flags & GIFT_SELF))
-            flags -= GIFT_SELF;
-    }
-
     if (u->items == NULL || fval(u_race(u), RCF_ILLUSIONARY))
         return 0;