diff --git a/hudi-common/src/main/java/org/apache/hudi/common/table/timeline/HoodieActiveTimeline.java b/hudi-common/src/main/java/org/apache/hudi/common/table/timeline/HoodieActiveTimeline.java
index 5d079f351cea8..ee442b1960866 100644
--- a/hudi-common/src/main/java/org/apache/hudi/common/table/timeline/HoodieActiveTimeline.java
+++ b/hudi-common/src/main/java/org/apache/hudi/common/table/timeline/HoodieActiveTimeline.java
@@ -196,25 +196,6 @@ public void deleteCompactionRequested(HoodieInstant instant) {
     deleteInstantFile(instant);
   }
 
-  private void deleteInstantFileIfExists(HoodieInstant instant) {
-    LOG.info("Deleting instant " + instant);
-    Path inFlightCommitFilePath = new Path(metaClient.getMetaPath(), instant.getFileName());
-    try {
-      if (metaClient.getFs().exists(inFlightCommitFilePath)) {
-        boolean result = metaClient.getFs().delete(inFlightCommitFilePath, false);
-        if (result) {
-          LOG.info("Removed instant " + instant);
-        } else {
-          throw new HoodieIOException("Could not delete instant " + instant);
-        }
-      } else {
-        LOG.warn("The commit " + inFlightCommitFilePath + " to remove does not exist");
-      }
-    } catch (IOException e) {
-      throw new HoodieIOException("Could not remove inflight commit " + inFlightCommitFilePath, e);
-    }
-  }
-
   private void deleteInstantFile(HoodieInstant instant) {
     LOG.info("Deleting instant " + instant);
     Path inFlightCommitFilePath = new Path(metaClient.getMetaPath(), instant.getFileName());