diff --git a/NEWS b/NEWS
index 24c43b7a0..c5a2a3f38 100644
--- a/NEWS
+++ b/NEWS
@@ -24,6 +24,12 @@ as arguments to the `setvbuf' function.
 Port mark functions have not been called since the switch to the BDW
 garbage collector.
 
+** Remove `scm_set_port_equalp'
+
+Likewise port equal functions weren't being called.  Given that ports
+have their own internal buffers, it doesn't make sense to hook them into
+equal? anyway.
+
 ** Remove `scm_set_port_free'
 
 It used to be that if an open port became unreachable, a special "free"
diff --git a/doc/ref/api-io.texi b/doc/ref/api-io.texi
index c175d2eac..759d33940 100644
--- a/doc/ref/api-io.texi
+++ b/doc/ref/api-io.texi
@@ -2313,12 +2313,6 @@ The first argument @var{port} is the object being printed, the second
 argument @var{dest_port} is where its description should go.
 @end deftypefun
 
-@item equalp
-Not used at present.  Set using
-
-@deftypefun void scm_set_port_equalp (scm_t_bits tc, SCM (*equalp) (SCM, SCM))
-@end deftypefun
-
 @item close
 Called when the port is closed.  It should free any resources used by
 the port.  Set using
diff --git a/libguile/ports.c b/libguile/ports.c
index e42f983c5..2c509eac0 100644
--- a/libguile/ports.c
+++ b/libguile/ports.c
@@ -274,12 +274,6 @@ scm_set_port_print (scm_t_bits tc, int (*print) (SCM exp, SCM port,
   scm_c_port_type_ref (SCM_TC2PTOBNUM (tc))->print = print;
 }
 
-void
-scm_set_port_equalp (scm_t_bits tc, SCM (*equalp) (SCM, SCM))
-{
-  scm_c_port_type_ref (SCM_TC2PTOBNUM (tc))->equalp = equalp;
-}
-
 void
 scm_set_port_close (scm_t_bits tc, int (*close) (SCM))
 {
diff --git a/libguile/ports.h b/libguile/ports.h
index 379fba294..6b9a006b8 100644
--- a/libguile/ports.h
+++ b/libguile/ports.h
@@ -187,7 +187,6 @@ typedef struct scm_t_ptob_descriptor
 {
   char *name;
   int (*print) (SCM exp, SCM port, scm_print_state *pstate);
-  SCM (*equalp) (SCM, SCM);
   int (*close) (SCM port);
 
   void (*write) (SCM port, const void *data, size_t size);
@@ -228,7 +227,6 @@ SCM_API void scm_set_port_print (scm_t_bits tc,
 				 int (*print) (SCM exp,
 					       SCM port,
 					       scm_print_state *pstate));
-SCM_API void scm_set_port_equalp (scm_t_bits tc, SCM (*equalp) (SCM, SCM));
 SCM_API void scm_set_port_close (scm_t_bits tc, int (*close) (SCM));
 SCM_API void scm_set_port_needs_close_on_gc (scm_t_bits tc, int needs_close_p);