diff --git a/tools/ios.py b/tools/ios.py
index 7240a97aa0..e98d7c2ddc 100644
--- a/tools/ios.py
+++ b/tools/ios.py
@@ -5,17 +5,6 @@
 import common_compiler_flags
 from SCons.Variables import BoolVariable
 
-if sys.version_info < (3,):
-
-    def decode_utf8(x):
-        return x
-
-else:
-    import codecs
-
-    def decode_utf8(x):
-        return codecs.utf_8_decode(x)[0]
-
 
 def has_ios_osxcross():
     return "OSXCROSS_IOS" in os.environ