diff --git a/src/history.rs b/src/history.rs
index 35f576cff..8db59cbfb 100644
--- a/src/history.rs
+++ b/src/history.rs
@@ -1360,9 +1360,6 @@ unsafe fn maybe_lock_file(file: &mut File, lock_type: libc::c_int) -> bool {
         if ABANDONED_LOCKING.load() {
             return false;
         }
-        if CHAOS_MODE.load() {
-            return false;
-        }
         if path_get_data_remoteness() == DirRemoteness::remote {
             return false;
         }
@@ -2084,7 +2081,3 @@ pub fn in_private_mode(vars: &dyn Environment) -> bool {
 
 /// Whether to force the read path instead of mmap. This is useful for testing.
 static NEVER_MMAP: RelaxedAtomicBool = RelaxedAtomicBool::new(false);
-
-/// Whether we're in maximum chaos mode, useful for testing.
-/// This causes things like locks to fail.
-pub static CHAOS_MODE: RelaxedAtomicBool = RelaxedAtomicBool::new(false);
diff --git a/src/tests/history.rs b/src/tests/history.rs
index d0a7e319a..db1942f07 100644
--- a/src/tests/history.rs
+++ b/src/tests/history.rs
@@ -272,8 +272,6 @@ fn test_history_races() {
     // Ensure history is clear.
     History::new(L!("race_test")).clear();
 
-    // history::CHAOS_MODE.store(true);
-
     let mut children = Vec::with_capacity(RACE_COUNT);
     for i in 0..RACE_COUNT {
         children.push(std::thread::spawn(move || {
@@ -295,7 +293,6 @@ fn test_history_races() {
 
     // Ensure that we got sane, sorted results.
     let hist = History::new(L!("race_test"));
-    history::CHAOS_MODE.store(false);
 
     // History is enumerated from most recent to least
     // Every item should be the last item in some array