diff --git a/configure.ac b/configure.ac
index 69aa9a946..5a2526672 100644
--- a/configure.ac
+++ b/configure.ac
@@ -127,7 +127,6 @@ NEED_PROG(bzip2, bzip2)
 NEED_PROG(gzip, gzip)
 NEED_PROG(xz, xz)
 AC_PATH_PROG(dot, dot)
-AC_PATH_PROG(pv, pv, pv)
 AC_PATH_PROG(lsof, lsof, lsof)
 
 
diff --git a/doc/manual/command-ref/nix-copy-closure.xml b/doc/manual/command-ref/nix-copy-closure.xml
index 800e1db6a..e6dcf180a 100644
--- a/doc/manual/command-ref/nix-copy-closure.xml
+++ b/doc/manual/command-ref/nix-copy-closure.xml
@@ -95,15 +95,6 @@ those paths.  If this bothers you, use
 
   </varlistentry>
 
-  <!--
-  <varlistentry><term><option>- -show-progress</option></term>
-
-    <listitem><para>Show the progress of each path's transfer as it's made.
-    This requires the <command>pv</command> utility to be in <envar>PATH</envar>.</para></listitem>
-
-  </varlistentry>
-  -->
-
   <varlistentry><term><option>--include-outputs</option></term>
 
     <listitem><para>Also copy the outputs of store derivations