diff --git a/src/kernel/config.c b/src/kernel/config.c
index 96ac6d3c6..d3093c58e 100644
--- a/src/kernel/config.c
+++ b/src/kernel/config.c
@@ -1085,7 +1085,6 @@ bool config_token(const char *key, const char *tok) {
 }
 
 void free_config(void) {
-    global.functions.maintenance = NULL;
     global.functions.wage = NULL;
     free_params(&configuration);
 }
diff --git a/src/kernel/config.h b/src/kernel/config.h
index dda7873aa..34bd91e9b 100644
--- a/src/kernel/config.h
+++ b/src/kernel/config.h
@@ -161,11 +161,9 @@ struct param;
         void *vm_state;
         int data_version; /* TODO: eliminate in favor of gamedata.version */
         struct _dictionary_ *inifile;
-
         struct global_functions {
             int(*wage) (const struct region * r, const struct faction * f,
                 const struct race * rc, int in_turn);
-            int(*maintenance) (const struct unit * u);
         } functions;
     } settings;
 
diff --git a/src/kernel/unit.c b/src/kernel/unit.c
index 1c6553c79..e41e5b006 100644
--- a/src/kernel/unit.c
+++ b/src/kernel/unit.c
@@ -1980,11 +1980,6 @@ int maintenance_cost(const struct unit *u)
 {
     if (u == NULL)
         return MAINTENANCE;
-    if (global.functions.maintenance) {
-        int retval = global.functions.maintenance(u);
-        if (retval >= 0)
-            return retval;
-    }
     return u_race(u)->maintenance * u->number;
 }
 
diff --git a/src/kernel/xmlreader.c b/src/kernel/xmlreader.c
index e1e476cd6..f4e5fd751 100644
--- a/src/kernel/xmlreader.c
+++ b/src/kernel/xmlreader.c
@@ -898,9 +898,6 @@ static int parse_rules(xmlDocPtr doc)
                 (int(*)(const struct region *, const struct faction *,
                 const struct race *, int))fun;
         }
-        else if (strcmp((const char *)propValue, "maintenance") == 0) {
-            global.functions.maintenance = (int(*)(const struct unit *))fun;
-        }
         else {
             log_error("unknown function for rule '%s'\n", (const char *)propValue);
         }
diff --git a/src/laws.test.c b/src/laws.test.c
index 623717619..4d001948a 100644
--- a/src/laws.test.c
+++ b/src/laws.test.c
@@ -349,11 +349,6 @@ static void test_fishing_feeds_2_people(CuTest * tc)
     CuAssertIntEquals(tc, 32, i_get(u->items, rtype->itype));
 }
 
-static int not_so_hungry(const unit * u)
-{
-    return 6 * u->number;
-}
-
 static void test_fishing_does_not_give_goblins_money(CuTest * tc)
 {
     const resource_type *rtype;
@@ -374,7 +369,6 @@ static void test_fishing_does_not_give_goblins_money(CuTest * tc)
     u_set_ship(u, sh);
     i_change(&u->items, rtype->itype, 42);
 
-    global.functions.maintenance = not_so_hungry;
     scale_number(u, 2);
     sh->flags |= SF_FISHING;
     get_food(r);