diff --git a/k4FWCore/components/PodioOutput.cpp b/k4FWCore/components/PodioOutput.cpp
index 24b879f7..65ae7ded 100644
--- a/k4FWCore/components/PodioOutput.cpp
+++ b/k4FWCore/components/PodioOutput.cpp
@@ -24,7 +24,6 @@
 
 #include "PodioOutput.h"
 #include "k4FWCore/PodioDataSvc.h"
-#include "rootUtils.h"
 
 DECLARE_COMPONENT(PodioOutput)
 
diff --git a/k4FWCore/components/rootUtils.h b/k4FWCore/components/rootUtils.h
deleted file mode 100644
index 6b9763d2..00000000
--- a/k4FWCore/components/rootUtils.h
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,64 +0,0 @@
-/*
- * Copyright (c) 2014-2024 Key4hep-Project.
- *
- * This file is part of Key4hep.
- * See https://key4hep.github.io/key4hep-doc/ for further info.
- *
- * Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
- * you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
- * You may obtain a copy of the License at
- *
- *     http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
- *
- * Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
- * distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
- * WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
- * See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
- * limitations under the License.
- */
-#ifndef PODIO_ROOT_UTILS_H
-#define PODIO_ROOT_UTILS_H
-
-#include "podio/CollectionBase.h"
-#include "podio/CollectionBranches.h"
-
-#include "TBranch.h"
-#include "TClass.h"
-
-#include <string>
-#include <vector>
-
-namespace podio::root_utils {
-  // Workaround slow branch retrieval for 6.22/06 performance degradation
-  // see: https://root-forum.cern.ch/t/serious-degradation-of-i-o-performance-from-6-20-04-to-6-22-06/43584/10
-  template <class Tree> TBranch* getBranch(Tree* chain, const char* name) {
-    return static_cast<TBranch*>(chain->GetListOfBranches()->FindObject(name));
-  }
-
-  inline std::string refBranch(const std::string& name, size_t index) { return name + "#" + std::to_string(index); }
-
-  inline std::string vecBranch(const std::string& name, size_t index) { return name + "_" + std::to_string(index); }
-
-  inline void setCollectionAddresses(podio::CollectionBase* collection, const CollectionBranches& branches) {
-    const auto collBuffers = collection->getBuffers();
-
-    if (auto buffer = collBuffers.data) {
-      branches.data->SetAddress(buffer);
-    }
-
-    if (auto refCollections = collBuffers.references) {
-      for (size_t i = 0; i < refCollections->size(); ++i) {
-        branches.refs[i]->SetAddress(&(*refCollections)[i]);
-      }
-    }
-
-    if (auto vecMembers = collBuffers.vectorMembers) {
-      for (size_t i = 0; i < vecMembers->size(); ++i) {
-        branches.vecs[i]->SetAddress((*vecMembers)[i].second);
-      }
-    }
-  }
-
-}  // namespace podio::root_utils
-
-#endif