diff --git a/doc/manual/command-ref/nix-store.xml b/doc/manual/command-ref/nix-store.xml
index 113a3c2e4..e8bbd16e8 100644
--- a/doc/manual/command-ref/nix-store.xml
+++ b/doc/manual/command-ref/nix-store.xml
@@ -360,7 +360,6 @@ EOF
     <arg choice='plain'><option>--print-roots</option></arg>
     <arg choice='plain'><option>--print-live</option></arg>
     <arg choice='plain'><option>--print-dead</option></arg>
-    <arg choice='plain'><option>--delete</option></arg>
   </group>
   <arg><option>--max-freed</option> <replaceable>bytes</replaceable></arg>
 </cmdsynopsis>
@@ -407,14 +406,6 @@ the Nix store not reachable via file system references from a set of
 
   </varlistentry>
 
-  <varlistentry><term><option>--delete</option></term>
-
-    <listitem><para>This operation performs an actual garbage
-    collection.  All dead paths are removed from the
-    store.  This is the default.</para></listitem>
-
-  </varlistentry>
-
 </variablelist>
 
 <para>By default, all unreachable paths are deleted.  The following
@@ -444,10 +435,10 @@ and <link
 linkend="conf-keep-derivations"><literal>keep-derivations</literal></link>
 variables in the Nix configuration file.</para>
 
-<para>With <option>--delete</option>, the collector prints the total
-number of freed bytes when it finishes (or when it is interrupted).
-With <option>--print-dead</option>, it prints the number of bytes that
-would be freed.</para>
+<para>By default, the collector prints the total number of freed bytes
+when it finishes (or when it is interrupted). With
+<option>--print-dead</option>, it prints the number of bytes that would
+be freed.</para>
 
 </refsection>
 
diff --git a/src/nix-store/nix-store.cc b/src/nix-store/nix-store.cc
index 45e152c47..c14d900ae 100644
--- a/src/nix-store/nix-store.cc
+++ b/src/nix-store/nix-store.cc
@@ -577,7 +577,6 @@ static void opGC(Strings opFlags, Strings opArgs)
         if (*i == "--print-roots") printRoots = true;
         else if (*i == "--print-live") options.action = GCOptions::gcReturnLive;
         else if (*i == "--print-dead") options.action = GCOptions::gcReturnDead;
-        else if (*i == "--delete") options.action = GCOptions::gcDeleteDead;
         else if (*i == "--max-freed") {
             long long maxFreed = getIntArg<long long>(*i, i, opFlags.end(), true);
             options.maxFreed = maxFreed >= 0 ? maxFreed : 0;