diff --git a/guix/import/utils.scm b/guix/import/utils.scm
index ed6c3ce6af..2a3b7341fb 100644
--- a/guix/import/utils.scm
+++ b/guix/import/utils.scm
@@ -47,7 +47,6 @@
 
             flatten
             assoc-ref*
-            hash-ref*
 
             url-fetch
             guix-hash-url
@@ -117,15 +116,6 @@ recursively apply the procedure to the sub-list."
       (assoc-ref alist key)
       (apply assoc-ref* (assoc-ref alist key) rest)))
 
-(define (hash-ref* hash-table key . rest)
-  "Return the value for KEY from HASH-TABLE.  For each additional key specified,
-recursively apply the procedure to the sub-hash-table."
-  (if (hash-table? hash-table)
-      (if (null? rest)
-          (hash-ref hash-table key)
-          (apply hash-ref* (hash-ref hash-table key) rest))
-      #f))                              ; For consistency with assoc-ref*
-
 (define (url-fetch url file-name)
   "Save the contents of URL to FILE-NAME.  Return #f on failure."
   (parameterize ((current-output-port (current-error-port)))