diff --git a/go/vt/mysqlctl/backup.go b/go/vt/mysqlctl/backup.go
index 87b100535cc..a6f69ae290a 100644
--- a/go/vt/mysqlctl/backup.go
+++ b/go/vt/mysqlctl/backup.go
@@ -322,11 +322,6 @@ func backup(ctx context.Context, cnf *Mycnf, mysqld MysqlDaemon, logger logutil.
 	usable := backupErr == nil
 
 	// Try to restart mysqld
-	err = mysqld.RefreshConfig(ctx, cnf)
-	if err != nil {
-		return usable, fmt.Errorf("can't refresh mysqld config: %v", err)
-	}
-
 	err = mysqld.Start(ctx, cnf)
 	if err != nil {
 		return usable, fmt.Errorf("can't restart mysqld: %v", err)
diff --git a/go/vt/mysqlctl/mysql_daemon.go b/go/vt/mysqlctl/mysql_daemon.go
index 2ee5b3e7bff..c8426e8915b 100644
--- a/go/vt/mysqlctl/mysql_daemon.go
+++ b/go/vt/mysqlctl/mysql_daemon.go
@@ -34,7 +34,6 @@ type MysqlDaemon interface {
 	Shutdown(ctx context.Context, cnf *Mycnf, waitForMysqld bool) error
 	RunMysqlUpgrade() error
 	ReinitConfig(ctx context.Context, cnf *Mycnf) error
-	RefreshConfig(ctx context.Context, cnf *Mycnf) error
 	Wait(ctx context.Context, cnf *Mycnf) error
 
 	// GetMysqlPort returns the current port mysql is listening on.