diff --git a/include/sysemu/char.h b/include/sysemu/char.h
index 307fd8fde4..372a6fd40b 100644
--- a/include/sysemu/char.h
+++ b/include/sysemu/char.h
@@ -403,7 +403,6 @@ void register_char_driver(const char *name, ChardevBackendKind kind,
 
 extern int term_escape_char;
 
-CharDriverState *qemu_char_get_next_serial(void);
 
 /* console.c */
 typedef CharDriverState *(VcHandler)(ChardevVC *vc, Error **errp);
diff --git a/qemu-char.c b/qemu-char.c
index b597ee19ca..b13ecbb025 100644
--- a/qemu-char.c
+++ b/qemu-char.c
@@ -4088,22 +4088,6 @@ CharDriverState *qemu_chr_find(const char *name)
     return NULL;
 }
 
-/* Get a character (serial) device interface.  */
-CharDriverState *qemu_char_get_next_serial(void)
-{
-    static int next_serial;
-    CharDriverState *chr;
-
-    /* FIXME: This function needs to go away: use chardev properties!  */
-
-    while (next_serial < MAX_SERIAL_PORTS && serial_hds[next_serial]) {
-        chr = serial_hds[next_serial++];
-        qemu_chr_fe_claim_no_fail(chr);
-        return chr;
-    }
-    return NULL;
-}
-
 QemuOptsList qemu_chardev_opts = {
     .name = "chardev",
     .implied_opt_name = "backend",