diff --git a/src/cmd/compile/internal/gc/noder.go b/src/cmd/compile/internal/gc/noder.go
index 590c1a16de9..5dce533e4b7 100644
--- a/src/cmd/compile/internal/gc/noder.go
+++ b/src/cmd/compile/internal/gc/noder.go
@@ -1641,10 +1641,3 @@ func mkname(sym *types.Sym) *Node {
 	}
 	return n
 }
-
-func unparen(x *Node) *Node {
-	for x.Op == OPAREN {
-		x = x.Left
-	}
-	return x
-}