diff --git a/lib/ansible/runner/__init__.py b/lib/ansible/runner/__init__.py
index 81202ddc4e..0ecdfefbbe 100644
--- a/lib/ansible/runner/__init__.py
+++ b/lib/ansible/runner/__init__.py
@@ -344,24 +344,6 @@ class Runner(object):
 
     # *****************************************************
 
-    def _save_setup_result_to_disk(self, conn, result):
-        ''' cache results of calling setup '''
-
-        dest = os.path.expanduser("~/.ansible_setup_data")
-        user = getpass.getuser()
-        if user == 'root':
-            dest = "/var/lib/ansible/setup_data"
-        if not os.path.exists(dest):
-            os.makedirs(dest)
-
-        fh = open(os.path.join(dest, conn.host), "w")
-        fh.write(result)
-        fh.close()
-
-        return result
-
-    # *****************************************************
-
     def _add_result_to_setup_cache(self, conn, result):
         ''' allows discovered variables to be used in templates and action statements '''