diff --git a/pkgs/stdenv/generic/setup-new.sh b/pkgs/stdenv/generic/setup-new.sh
index 9fe19d91def7..5c8d935c7996 100644
--- a/pkgs/stdenv/generic/setup-new.sh
+++ b/pkgs/stdenv/generic/setup-new.sh
@@ -160,9 +160,6 @@ findInputs() {
 }
 
 pkgs=""
-if test -n "$buildinputs"; then
-    buildInputs="$buildinputs" # compatibility
-fi
 for i in $buildInputs $propagatedBuildInputs; do
     findInputs $i
 done