diff --git a/src/plugins/remotelinux/abstractremotelinuxdeploystep.cpp b/src/plugins/remotelinux/abstractremotelinuxdeploystep.cpp
index 270b95eb229..7e7e3d9a19a 100644
--- a/src/plugins/remotelinux/abstractremotelinuxdeploystep.cpp
+++ b/src/plugins/remotelinux/abstractremotelinuxdeploystep.cpp
@@ -96,11 +96,6 @@ void AbstractRemoteLinuxDeployService::setTarget(Target *target)
     d->deviceConfiguration = DeviceKitAspect::device(kit());
 }
 
-void AbstractRemoteLinuxDeployService::setDevice(const IDevice::ConstPtr &device)
-{
-    d->deviceConfiguration = device;
-}
-
 void AbstractRemoteLinuxDeployService::start()
 {
     QTC_ASSERT(!d->m_taskTree, return);
diff --git a/src/plugins/remotelinux/abstractremotelinuxdeploystep.h b/src/plugins/remotelinux/abstractremotelinuxdeploystep.h
index 258d4b9e7f9..67855064bb0 100644
--- a/src/plugins/remotelinux/abstractremotelinuxdeploystep.h
+++ b/src/plugins/remotelinux/abstractremotelinuxdeploystep.h
@@ -83,8 +83,7 @@ public:
     ~AbstractRemoteLinuxDeployService() override;
 
     void setTarget(ProjectExplorer::Target *bc);
-    // Only use setDevice() as fallback if no target is available
-    void setDevice(const ProjectExplorer::IDeviceConstPtr &device);
+
     void start();
     void stop();