diff --git a/client/internal/engine.go b/client/internal/engine.go
index fbd8ee6d8..10c3a9edd 100644
--- a/client/internal/engine.go
+++ b/client/internal/engine.go
@@ -910,13 +910,6 @@ func (e *Engine) addNewPeer(peerConfig *mgmProto.RemotePeerConfig) error {
 	return nil
 }
 
-func (e *Engine) peerExists(peerKey string) bool {
-	e.syncMsgMux.Lock()
-	defer e.syncMsgMux.Unlock()
-	_, ok := e.peerConns[peerKey]
-	return ok
-}
-
 func (e *Engine) createPeerConn(pubKey string, allowedIPs string) (*peer.Conn, error) {
 	log.Debugf("creating peer connection %s", pubKey)