diff --git a/setup.py b/setup.py
index 00e7485..b8ff005 100755
--- a/setup.py
+++ b/setup.py
@@ -63,7 +63,6 @@ from setupbase import (
     find_entry_points,
     build_scripts_entrypt,
     find_data_files,
-    check_for_readline,
     git_prebuild,
     install_symlinked,
     install_lib_symlink,
diff --git a/setupbase.py b/setupbase.py
index e7de7c4..6ee34cf 100644
--- a/setupbase.py
+++ b/setupbase.py
@@ -409,27 +409,6 @@ class install_scripts_for_symlink(install_scripts):
                                    ('skip_build', 'skip_build'),
                                   )
 
-#---------------------------------------------------------------------------
-# Verify all dependencies
-#---------------------------------------------------------------------------
-
-def check_for_readline():
-    """Check for GNU readline"""
-    try:
-        import gnureadline as readline
-    except ImportError:
-        pass
-    else:
-        return True
-    try:
-        import readline
-    except ImportError:
-        return False
-    else:
-        if sys.platform == 'darwin' and 'libedit' in readline.__doc__:
-            print("Ignoring readline linked to libedit", file=sys.stderr)
-            return False
-        return True
 
 #---------------------------------------------------------------------------
 # VCS related