diff --git a/include/dwarfs/metadata_types.h b/include/dwarfs/metadata_types.h
index 372e7794..cbdde8c2 100644
--- a/include/dwarfs/metadata_types.h
+++ b/include/dwarfs/metadata_types.h
@@ -87,8 +87,6 @@ class directory_view
 
   boost::integer_range<uint32_t> entry_range() const;
 
-  std::optional<directory_view> parent() const;
-
   uint32_t parent_inode() const;
 
  private:
diff --git a/src/dwarfs/metadata_types.cpp b/src/dwarfs/metadata_types.cpp
index f4d2e357..44c7dba1 100644
--- a/src/dwarfs/metadata_types.cpp
+++ b/src/dwarfs/metadata_types.cpp
@@ -205,12 +205,4 @@ uint32_t directory_view::parent_inode() const {
   return ent;
 }
 
-std::optional<directory_view> directory_view::parent() const {
-  if (inode_ == 0) {
-    return std::nullopt;
-  }
-
-  return directory_view(parent_inode(), meta_);
-}
-
 } // namespace dwarfs