diff --git a/modules/chimera/src/main/java/org/dcache/chimera/FsInode_SURI.java b/modules/chimera/src/main/java/org/dcache/chimera/FsInode_SURI.java
index e75122614e2..c8303a1aeed 100644
--- a/modules/chimera/src/main/java/org/dcache/chimera/FsInode_SURI.java
+++ b/modules/chimera/src/main/java/org/dcache/chimera/FsInode_SURI.java
@@ -63,10 +63,7 @@ LIABILITY, WHETHER IN CONTRACT, STRICT LIABILITY, OR TORT (INCLUDING
 import com.google.common.base.Joiner;
 import java.net.URI;
 import java.net.URISyntaxException;
-import java.security.AccessController;
 import java.util.List;
-import javax.security.auth.Subject;
-import org.dcache.auth.Subjects;
 import org.dcache.chimera.posix.Stat;
 
 /**
@@ -100,11 +97,6 @@ public static void validate(String line) throws URISyntaxException {
         }
     }
 
-    private static boolean isRoot() {
-        return Subjects.isRoot(
-              Subject.getSubject(AccessController.getContext()));
-    }
-
     private List<StorageLocatable> locations;
 
     public FsInode_SURI(FileSystemProvider fs, long ino) {