diff --git a/compiler/rustc_session/src/options.rs b/compiler/rustc_session/src/options.rs
index 1c2a7f7716d..92715214341 100644
--- a/compiler/rustc_session/src/options.rs
+++ b/compiler/rustc_session/src/options.rs
@@ -299,7 +299,6 @@ mod $mod_desc {
         pub const parse_opt_pathbuf: &str = "a path";
         pub const parse_pathbuf_push: &str = parse_opt_pathbuf;
         pub const parse_list: &str = "a space-separated list of strings";
-        pub const parse_opt_list: &str = parse_list;
         pub const parse_opt_comma_list: &str = "a comma-separated list of strings";
         pub const parse_number: &str = "a number";
         pub const parse_opt_number: &str = parse_number;
@@ -435,18 +434,6 @@ fn parse_list(slot: &mut Vec<String>, v: Option<&str>)
             }
         }
 
-        fn parse_opt_list(slot: &mut Option<Vec<String>>, v: Option<&str>)
-                      -> bool {
-            match v {
-                Some(s) => {
-                    let v = s.split_whitespace().map(|s| s.to_string()).collect();
-                    *slot = Some(v);
-                    true
-                },
-                None => false,
-            }
-        }
-
         fn parse_opt_comma_list(slot: &mut Option<Vec<String>>, v: Option<&str>)
                       -> bool {
             match v {