diff --git a/src/config/conf.c b/src/config/conf.c
index ab0a54937..afe485587 100644
--- a/src/config/conf.c
+++ b/src/config/conf.c
@@ -877,8 +877,6 @@ create_config_string(unsigned char *prefix, unsigned char *name,
 		touching = 0;
 	}
 
-	if (savestyle == 2) watermark_deleted_options(options->value.tree);
-
 	/* Scaring. */
 	if (savestyle == 2
 	    || (savestyle < 2
diff --git a/src/config/options.c b/src/config/options.c
index 313e3c7f2..c93552bb0 100644
--- a/src/config/options.c
+++ b/src/config/options.c
@@ -748,19 +748,6 @@ unmark_options_tree(LIST_OF(struct option) *tree)
 	}
 }
 
-void
-watermark_deleted_options(LIST_OF(struct option) *tree)
-{
-	struct option *option;
-
-	foreach (option, *tree) {
-		if (option->flags & OPT_DELETED)
-			option->flags |= OPT_WATERMARK;
-		else if (option->type == OPT_TREE)
-			watermark_deleted_options(option->value.tree);
-	}
-}
-
 static int
 check_nonempty_tree(LIST_OF(struct option) *options)
 {
diff --git a/src/config/options.h b/src/config/options.h
index 15d9d7949..68198d9be 100644
--- a/src/config/options.h
+++ b/src/config/options.h
@@ -162,7 +162,6 @@ extern void register_change_hooks(const struct change_hook_info *change_hooks);
 
 extern LIST_OF(struct option) *init_options_tree(void);
 extern void unmark_options_tree(LIST_OF(struct option) *);
-void watermark_deleted_options(LIST_OF(struct option) *);
 
 extern void smart_config_string(struct string *, int, int,
 				LIST_OF(struct option) *, unsigned char *, int,