diff --git a/include/prototypes.h b/include/prototypes.h
index 45ab95aa..733f5610 100644
--- a/include/prototypes.h
+++ b/include/prototypes.h
@@ -450,7 +450,6 @@ extern int asw_shipsatxy(coord, coord, int, int, struct plnstr *,
 extern void print_shiplist(struct shiplist *);
 extern int has_units(coord, coord, natid);
 extern int adj_units(coord, coord, natid);
-extern int islist(char *);
 /* maps.c */
 /* in map.h */
 /* mission.c */
diff --git a/src/lib/subs/list.c b/src/lib/subs/list.c
index 0cfe76d5..bfb2cc54 100644
--- a/src/lib/subs/list.c
+++ b/src/lib/subs/list.c
@@ -266,17 +266,3 @@ has_units(coord x, coord y, natid cn)
 
     return 0;
 }
-
-/*
- * is p a list of ships/planes/units?
- */
-
-int
-islist(char *p)
-{
-    for (; *p; p++) {
-	if (!isdigit(*p) && *p != '/')
-	    return 0;
-    }
-    return 1;
-}