diff --git a/nix/readTree/default.nix b/nix/readTree/default.nix
index f433b2736..5443d2edf 100644
--- a/nix/readTree/default.nix
+++ b/nix/readTree/default.nix
@@ -33,11 +33,6 @@ let
     readDir
     substring;
 
-  assertMsg = pred: msg:
-    if pred
-    then true
-    else builtins.trace msg false;
-
   argsWithPath = args: parts:
     let meta.locatedAt = parts;
     in meta // (if isAttrs args then args else args meta);