diff --git a/guix/build-system/glib-or-gtk.scm b/guix/build-system/glib-or-gtk.scm
index a1f0a9b8a4..d585d84f20 100644
--- a/guix/build-system/glib-or-gtk.scm
+++ b/guix/build-system/glib-or-gtk.scm
@@ -36,7 +36,7 @@
 ;; This build system is an extension of the 'gnu-build-system'.  It
 ;; accomodates the needs of applications making use of glib or gtk+ (with "or"
 ;; to be interpreted in the mathematical sense).  This is achieved by adding
-;; three phases run after the 'install' phase:
+;; two phases run after the 'install' phase:
 ;;
 ;; 'glib-or-gtk-wrap' phase:
 ;;
@@ -57,11 +57,6 @@
 ;; exists and does not include a file named "gschemas.compiled", then
 ;; "glib-compile-schemas" is run in that directory.
 ;;
-;; 'glib-or-gtk-icon-cache' phase:
-;;
-;; Looks for the existence of icon themes and, if no cache exists, generate
-;; the "icon-theme.cache" file.
-;;
 ;; Code:
 
 (define %default-modules
@@ -81,22 +76,16 @@
   (let ((module (resolve-interface '(gnu packages glib))))
     (module-ref module 'glib)))
 
-(define (default-gtk+)
-  "Return the default gtk+ package from which we use
-\"gtk-update-icon-cache\"."
-  (let ((module (resolve-interface '(gnu packages gtk))))
-    (module-ref module 'gtk+)))
-
 (define* (lower name
                 #:key source inputs native-inputs outputs system target
-                (glib (default-glib)) (gtk+ (default-gtk+))
+                (glib (default-glib))
                 (implicit-inputs? #t)
                 (strip-binaries? #t)
                 #:allow-other-keys
                 #:rest arguments)
   "Return a bag for NAME."
   (define private-keywords
-    '(#:source #:target #:glib #:gtk+ #:inputs #:native-inputs
+    '(#:source #:target #:glib #:inputs #:native-inputs
       #:outputs #:implicit-inputs?))
 
   (and (not target)                               ;XXX: no cross-compilation
@@ -108,7 +97,6 @@
                               '())
                         ,@inputs))
          (build-inputs `(("glib:bin" ,glib "bin") ; to compile schemas
-                         ("gtk+" ,gtk+)           ; to generate icon cache
                          ,@(if implicit-inputs?
                                (standard-packages)
                                '())
diff --git a/guix/build/glib-or-gtk-build-system.scm b/guix/build/glib-or-gtk-build-system.scm
index 15d7de2236..b6291e735b 100644
--- a/guix/build/glib-or-gtk-build-system.scm
+++ b/guix/build/glib-or-gtk-build-system.scm
@@ -213,37 +213,9 @@ if needed."
                  #t))))
          outputs))
 
-(define* (generate-icon-cache #:key outputs #:allow-other-keys)
-  "Implement phase \"glib-or-gtk-icon-cache\": generate icon cache if
-needed."
-  (every (match-lambda
-          ((output . directory)
-           (let ((iconsdir (string-append directory
-                                            "/share/icons")))
-             (when (file-exists? iconsdir)
-               (with-directory-excursion iconsdir
-                 (for-each
-                  (lambda (dir)
-                    (unless (file-exists?
-                             (string-append iconsdir "/" dir "/"
-                                            "icon-theme.cache"))
-                      (system* "gtk-update-icon-cache"
-                               "--ignore-theme-index"
-                               (string-append iconsdir "/" dir))))
-                  (scandir "."
-                           (lambda (name)
-                             (and
-                              (not (equal? name "."))
-                              (not (equal? name ".."))
-                              (equal? 'directory
-                                      (stat:type (stat name)))))))))
-             #t)))
-         outputs))
-
 (define %standard-phases
   (modify-phases gnu:%standard-phases
     (add-after 'install 'glib-or-gtk-compile-schemas compile-glib-schemas)
-    (add-after 'install 'glib-or-gtk-icon-cache generate-icon-cache)
     (add-after 'install 'glib-or-gtk-wrap wrap-all-programs)))
 
 (define* (glib-or-gtk-build #:key inputs (phases %standard-phases)