diff --git a/src/io.cpp b/src/io.cpp
index 129044239..6bf0782b4 100644
--- a/src/io.cpp
+++ b/src/io.cpp
@@ -214,11 +214,6 @@ void io_chain_t::push_back(shared_ptr<io_data_t> element) {
     std::vector<shared_ptr<io_data_t> >::push_back(std::move(element));
 }
 
-void io_chain_t::push_front(shared_ptr<io_data_t> element) {
-    assert(element.get() != nullptr);
-    this->insert(this->begin(), std::move(element));
-}
-
 void io_chain_t::append(const io_chain_t &chain) {
     this->insert(this->end(), chain.begin(), chain.end());
 }
diff --git a/src/io.h b/src/io.h
index 79ea595de..0b18b0d18 100644
--- a/src/io.h
+++ b/src/io.h
@@ -333,7 +333,6 @@ class io_chain_t : public std::vector<shared_ptr<io_data_t>> {
 
     void remove(const shared_ptr<const io_data_t> &element);
     void push_back(shared_ptr<io_data_t> element);
-    void push_front(shared_ptr<io_data_t> element);
     void append(const io_chain_t &chain);
 
     shared_ptr<const io_data_t> get_io_for_fd(int fd) const;