diff --git a/src/fu-plugin.c b/src/fu-plugin.c
index 6343ee80e..62134445a 100644
--- a/src/fu-plugin.c
+++ b/src/fu-plugin.c
@@ -84,14 +84,6 @@ fu_plugin_get_name (FuPlugin *plugin)
 	return priv->name;
 }
 
-void
-fu_plugin_set_name (FuPlugin *plugin, const gchar *name)
-{
-	FuPluginPrivate *priv = GET_PRIVATE (plugin);
-	g_free (priv->name);
-	priv->name = g_strdup (name);
-}
-
 gpointer
 fu_plugin_cache_lookup (FuPlugin *plugin, const gchar *id)
 {
diff --git a/src/fu-plugin.h b/src/fu-plugin.h
index cfe53a9ef..8e628d61e 100644
--- a/src/fu-plugin.h
+++ b/src/fu-plugin.h
@@ -63,8 +63,6 @@ typedef struct	FuPluginData	FuPluginData;
 
 /* for plugins to use */
 const gchar	*fu_plugin_get_name			(FuPlugin	*plugin);
-void		 fu_plugin_set_name			(FuPlugin	*plugin,
-							 const gchar	*name);
 FuPluginData	*fu_plugin_get_data			(FuPlugin	*plugin);
 FuPluginData	*fu_plugin_alloc_data			(FuPlugin	*plugin,
 							 gsize		 data_sz);