diff --git a/libs/ardour/ardour/audio_backend.h b/libs/ardour/ardour/audio_backend.h
index cdfd4971c8..6e4084ac9d 100644
--- a/libs/ardour/ardour/audio_backend.h
+++ b/libs/ardour/ardour/audio_backend.h
@@ -200,12 +200,6 @@ class LIBARDOUR_API AudioBackend : public PortEngine {
      * doesn't directly expose the concept).
      */
     virtual int set_buffer_size (uint32_t) = 0;
-    /** Set the preferred underlying hardware sample format
-     *
-     * This does not change the sample format (32 bit float) read and
-     * written to the device via the Port API.
-     */
-    virtual int set_sample_format (SampleFormat) = 0;
     /** Set the preferred underlying hardware data layout.
      * If @param yn is true, then the hardware will interleave
      * samples for successive channels; otherwise, the hardware will store
@@ -237,7 +231,6 @@ class LIBARDOUR_API AudioBackend : public PortEngine {
     virtual std::string  device_name () const = 0;
     virtual float        sample_rate () const = 0;
     virtual uint32_t     buffer_size () const = 0;
-    virtual SampleFormat sample_format () const = 0;
     virtual bool         interleaved () const = 0;
     virtual uint32_t     input_channels () const = 0;
     virtual uint32_t     output_channels () const = 0;
diff --git a/libs/ardour/ardour/audioengine.h b/libs/ardour/ardour/audioengine.h
index 75954e6ca9..dd57f81e90 100644
--- a/libs/ardour/ardour/audioengine.h
+++ b/libs/ardour/ardour/audioengine.h
@@ -113,7 +113,6 @@ public:
     int set_device_name (const std::string&);
     int set_sample_rate (float);
     int set_buffer_size (uint32_t);
-    int set_sample_format (SampleFormat);
     int set_interleaved (bool yn);
     int set_input_channels (uint32_t);
     int set_output_channels (uint32_t);
diff --git a/libs/ardour/audioengine.cc b/libs/ardour/audioengine.cc
index e93dd9edfb..0cb1a1e112 100644
--- a/libs/ardour/audioengine.cc
+++ b/libs/ardour/audioengine.cc
@@ -894,15 +894,6 @@ AudioEngine::set_buffer_size (uint32_t bufsiz)
 	return _backend->set_buffer_size  (bufsiz);
 }
 
-int
-AudioEngine::set_sample_format (SampleFormat sf)
-{
-	if (!_backend) {
-		return -1;
-	}
-	return _backend->set_sample_format  (sf);
-}
-
 int
 AudioEngine::set_interleaved (bool yn)
 {