diff --git a/reader_concurrency_semaphore.cc b/reader_concurrency_semaphore.cc
index d37e3c359d..114422a567 100644
--- a/reader_concurrency_semaphore.cc
+++ b/reader_concurrency_semaphore.cc
@@ -926,15 +926,6 @@ future<reader_permit> reader_concurrency_semaphore::obtain_permit(const schema*
     });
 }
 
-future<reader_permit> reader_concurrency_semaphore::obtain_permit_nowait(const schema* const schema, const char* const op_name, size_t memory,
-        db::timeout_clock::time_point timeout) {
-    return make_ready_future<reader_permit>(reader_permit(*this, schema, std::string_view(op_name), {}));
-}
-future<reader_permit> reader_concurrency_semaphore::obtain_permit_nowait(const schema* const schema, sstring&& op_name, size_t memory,
-        db::timeout_clock::time_point timeout) {
-    return make_ready_future<reader_permit>(reader_permit(*this, schema, std::move(op_name), {}));
-}
-
 reader_permit reader_concurrency_semaphore::make_tracking_only_permit(const schema* const schema, const char* const op_name) {
     return reader_permit(*this, schema, std::string_view(op_name), {});
 }
diff --git a/reader_concurrency_semaphore.hh b/reader_concurrency_semaphore.hh
index 3d15011957..b17c24e1e8 100644
--- a/reader_concurrency_semaphore.hh
+++ b/reader_concurrency_semaphore.hh
@@ -331,9 +331,6 @@ public:
     future<reader_permit> obtain_permit(const schema* const schema, const char* const op_name, size_t memory, db::timeout_clock::time_point timeout);
     future<reader_permit> obtain_permit(const schema* const schema, sstring&& op_name, size_t memory, db::timeout_clock::time_point timeout);
 
-    future<reader_permit> obtain_permit_nowait(const schema* const schema, const char* const op_name, size_t memory, db::timeout_clock::time_point timeout);
-    future<reader_permit> obtain_permit_nowait(const schema* const schema, sstring&& op_name, size_t memory, db::timeout_clock::time_point timeout);
-
     /// Make a tracking only permit
     ///
     /// The permit is not admitted. It is intended for reads that bypass the