diff --git a/quote.c b/quote.c
index b9f6bdc775..cff78af3a4 100644
--- a/quote.c
+++ b/quote.c
@@ -202,11 +202,6 @@ static int sq_dequote_to_argv_internal(char *arg,
 	return 0;
 }
 
-int sq_dequote_to_argv(char *arg, const char ***argv, int *nr, int *alloc)
-{
-	return sq_dequote_to_argv_internal(arg, argv, nr, alloc, NULL);
-}
-
 int sq_dequote_to_strvec(char *arg, struct strvec *array)
 {
 	return sq_dequote_to_argv_internal(arg, NULL, NULL, NULL, array);
diff --git a/quote.h b/quote.h
index 400397b11a..989f2388c0 100644
--- a/quote.h
+++ b/quote.h
@@ -68,15 +68,9 @@ char *sq_dequote_step(char *src, char **next);
 
 /*
  * Same as the above, but can be used to unwrap many arguments in the
- * same string separated by space. Like sq_quote, it works in place,
- * modifying arg and appending pointers into it to argv.
- */
-int sq_dequote_to_argv(char *arg, const char ***argv, int *nr, int *alloc);
-
-/*
- * Same as above, but store the unquoted strings in a strvec. We will
- * still modify arg in place, but unlike sq_dequote_to_argv, the strvec
- * will duplicate and take ownership of the strings.
+ * same string separated by space. The strvec will duplicate and take
+ * ownership of the strings, but note that "arg" is still modified in-place
+ * during parsing.
  */
 int sq_dequote_to_strvec(char *arg, struct strvec *);