diff --git a/src/libutil/ref.hh b/src/libutil/ref.hh
index 347b81f73..f9578afc7 100644
--- a/src/libutil/ref.hh
+++ b/src/libutil/ref.hh
@@ -99,47 +99,4 @@ make_ref(Args&&... args)
     return ref<T>(p);
 }
 
-
-/* A non-nullable pointer.
-   This is similar to a C++ "& reference", but mutable.
-   This is similar to ref<T> but backed by a regular pointer instead of a smart pointer.
- */
-template<typename T>
-class ptr {
-private:
-    T * p;
-
-public:
-    ptr<T>(const ptr<T> & r)
-        : p(r.p)
-    { }
-
-    explicit ptr<T>(T * p)
-        : p(p)
-    {
-        if (!p)
-            throw std::invalid_argument("null pointer cast to ptr");
-    }
-
-    T* operator ->() const
-    {
-        return &*p;
-    }
-
-    T& operator *() const
-    {
-        return *p;
-    }
-
-    bool operator == (const ptr<T> & other) const
-    {
-        return p == other.p;
-    }
-
-    bool operator != (const ptr<T> & other) const
-    {
-        return p != other.p;
-    }
-};
-
 }