diff --git a/utils/xgboost_utils.h b/utils/xgboost_utils.h
index ab07bacc7..7c0e53f2e 100644
--- a/utils/xgboost_utils.h
+++ b/utils/xgboost_utils.h
@@ -62,16 +62,6 @@ namespace xgboost{
             }
             return fp;
         }
-
-        /*! \brief replace fopen, */
-        inline FILE *FopenTry(const char *fname, const char *flag){
-            FILE *fp = fopen64(fname, flag);
-            if (fp == NULL){
-                fprintf(stderr, "can not open file \"%s\"\n", fname);
-                exit(-1);
-            }
-            return fp;
-        }
     };
 };