diff --git a/core/compiler.common/src/org/jetbrains/kotlin/types/AbstractTypeChecker.kt b/core/compiler.common/src/org/jetbrains/kotlin/types/AbstractTypeChecker.kt
index 7ce477a4533..8fc64288794 100644
--- a/core/compiler.common/src/org/jetbrains/kotlin/types/AbstractTypeChecker.kt
+++ b/core/compiler.common/src/org/jetbrains/kotlin/types/AbstractTypeChecker.kt
@@ -205,16 +205,6 @@ object AbstractTypeChecker {
         return isSubtypeOf(context.newTypeCheckerState(true, stubTypesEqualToAnything), subType, superType)
     }
 
-    fun areRelatedBySubtyping(
-        context: TypeCheckerProviderContext,
-        subType: KotlinTypeMarker,
-        superType: KotlinTypeMarker,
-        stubTypesEqualToAnything: Boolean = true
-    ): Boolean {
-        val typeCheckerContext = context.newTypeCheckerState(true, stubTypesEqualToAnything)
-        return isSubtypeOf(typeCheckerContext, subType, superType) || isSubtypeOf(typeCheckerContext, superType, subType)
-    }
-
     fun isSubtypeOfClass(
         state: TypeCheckerState,
         typeConstructor: TypeConstructorMarker,