diff --git a/eth/backend.go b/eth/backend.go
index 3ec36d3fceebf6706a988253ef70ffdfe7462a1d..1d991b9ef23ea6e0730a8ac0fecd50708271c3f0 100644
--- a/eth/backend.go
+++ b/eth/backend.go
@@ -1,7 +1,6 @@
 package eth
 
 import (
-	"encoding/json"
 	"net"
 	"sync"
 
@@ -214,22 +213,6 @@ func (s *Ethereum) WaitForShutdown() {
 	<-s.shutdownChan
 }
 
-func WritePeers(path string, addresses []string) {
-	if len(addresses) > 0 {
-		data, _ := json.MarshalIndent(addresses, "", "    ")
-		ethutil.WriteFile(path, data)
-	}
-}
-
-func ReadPeers(path string) (ips []string, err error) {
-	var data string
-	data, err = ethutil.ReadAllFile(path)
-	if err != nil {
-		json.Unmarshal([]byte(data), &ips)
-	}
-	return
-}
-
 // now tx broadcasting is taken out of txPool
 // handled here via subscription, efficiency?
 func (self *Ethereum) txBroadcastLoop() {