diff --git a/src/libstore/globals.cc b/src/libstore/globals.cc
index 46b14cc98..4c66d08ee 100644
--- a/src/libstore/globals.cc
+++ b/src/libstore/globals.cc
@@ -249,17 +249,6 @@ unsigned int MaxBuildJobsSetting::parse(const std::string & str) const
     }
 }
 
-unsigned int MaxSubstitutionJobsSetting::parse(const std::string & str) const
-{
-    if (str == "auto") return std::max(1U, std::thread::hardware_concurrency());
-    else {
-        if (auto n = string2Int<decltype(value)>(str))
-            return std::max(1U, *n);
-        else
-            throw UsageError("configuration setting '%s' should be 'auto' or an integer", name);
-    }
-}
-
 
 Paths PluginFilesSetting::parse(const std::string & str) const
 {
diff --git a/src/libstore/globals.hh b/src/libstore/globals.hh
index f1e1e4b22..c41125523 100644
--- a/src/libstore/globals.hh
+++ b/src/libstore/globals.hh
@@ -29,21 +29,6 @@ struct MaxBuildJobsSetting : public BaseSetting<unsigned int>
     unsigned int parse(const std::string & str) const override;
 };
 
-struct MaxSubstitutionJobsSetting : public BaseSetting<unsigned int>
-{
-    MaxSubstitutionJobsSetting(Config * options,
-        unsigned int def,
-        const std::string & name,
-        const std::string & description,
-        const std::set<std::string> & aliases = {})
-        : BaseSetting<unsigned int>(def, true, name, description, aliases)
-    {
-        options->addSetting(this);
-    }
-
-    unsigned int parse(const std::string & str) const override;
-};
-
 struct PluginFilesSetting : public BaseSetting<Paths>
 {
     bool pluginsLoaded = false;
@@ -174,15 +159,12 @@ public:
         )",
         {"build-max-jobs"}};
 
-    MaxSubstitutionJobsSetting maxSubstitutionJobs{
+    Setting<unsigned int> maxSubstitutionJobs{
         this, 16, "max-substitution-jobs",
         R"(
           This option defines the maximum number of substitution jobs that Nix
           will try to run in parallel. The default is `16`. The minimum value
-          one can choose is `1` and lower values will be interpreted as `1`. The
-          special value `auto` causes Nix to use the number of CPUs in your
-          system. It can be overridden using the `--max-substitution-jobs`
-          command line switch.
+          one can choose is `1` and lower values will be interpreted as `1`.
         )",
         {"substitution-max-jobs"}};