diff --git a/db/system_keyspace.cc b/db/system_keyspace.cc
index 207038dc57..c06f6c4a2d 100644
--- a/db/system_keyspace.cc
+++ b/db/system_keyspace.cc
@@ -1485,21 +1485,6 @@ future<> update_tokens(gms::inet_address ep, const std::unordered_set<dht::token
     });
 }
 
-future<std::unordered_set<dht::token>> update_local_tokens(
-    const std::unordered_set<dht::token> add_tokens,
-    const std::unordered_set<dht::token> rm_tokens) {
-    return get_saved_tokens().then([add_tokens = std::move(add_tokens), rm_tokens = std::move(rm_tokens)] (auto tokens) {
-        for (auto& x : rm_tokens) {
-            tokens.erase(x);
-        }
-        for (auto& x : add_tokens) {
-            tokens.insert(x);
-        }
-        return update_tokens(tokens).then([tokens] {
-            return tokens;
-        });
-    });
-}
 
 future<std::unordered_map<gms::inet_address, std::unordered_set<dht::token>>> load_tokens() {
     sstring req = format("SELECT peer, tokens FROM system.{}", PEERS);
diff --git a/db/system_keyspace.hh b/db/system_keyspace.hh
index be30b989d8..3aece0ab94 100644
--- a/db/system_keyspace.hh
+++ b/db/system_keyspace.hh
@@ -485,17 +485,6 @@ enum class bootstrap_state {
     }
 #endif
 
-    /**
-     * Convenience method to update the list of tokens in the local system keyspace.
-     *
-     * @param addTokens tokens to add
-     * @param rmTokens tokens to remove
-     * @return the collection of persisted tokens
-     */
-    future<std::unordered_set<dht::token>> update_local_tokens(
-        const std::unordered_set<dht::token> add_tokens,
-        const std::unordered_set<dht::token> rm_tokens);
-
     /**
      * Return a map of stored tokens to IP addresses
      *