diff --git a/libs/ardour/ardour/audioengine.h b/libs/ardour/ardour/audioengine.h
index 4f8d7a94ba..79aab2ef62 100644
--- a/libs/ardour/ardour/audioengine.h
+++ b/libs/ardour/ardour/audioengine.h
@@ -68,7 +68,6 @@ class LIBARDOUR_API AudioEngine : public PortManager, public SessionHandlePtr
 	int discover_backends();
 	std::vector<const AudioBackendInfo*> available_backends() const;
 	std::string current_backend_name () const;
-	boost::shared_ptr<AudioBackend> set_default_backend ();
 	boost::shared_ptr<AudioBackend> set_backend (const std::string&, const std::string& arg1, const std::string& arg2);
 	boost::shared_ptr<AudioBackend> current_backend() const { return _backend; }
 	bool setup_required () const;
diff --git a/libs/ardour/audioengine.cc b/libs/ardour/audioengine.cc
index 6b0c70b44c..f49c46a6b9 100644
--- a/libs/ardour/audioengine.cc
+++ b/libs/ardour/audioengine.cc
@@ -853,16 +853,6 @@ AudioEngine::drop_backend ()
 	}
 }
 
-boost::shared_ptr<AudioBackend>
-AudioEngine::set_default_backend ()
-{
-	if (_backends.empty()) {
-		return boost::shared_ptr<AudioBackend>();
-	}
-
-	return set_backend (_backends.begin()->first, "", "");
-}
-
 boost::shared_ptr<AudioBackend>
 AudioEngine::set_backend (const std::string& name, const std::string& arg1, const std::string& arg2)
 {