diff --git a/source/lib/sysdep/os/win/wutil.cpp b/source/lib/sysdep/os/win/wutil.cpp
index ff758a8e2e..9f3188ab0b 100644
--- a/source/lib/sysdep/os/win/wutil.cpp
+++ b/source/lib/sysdep/os/win/wutil.cpp
@@ -162,17 +162,11 @@ Status StatusFromWin()
 // directories
 
 // (NB: wutil_Init is called before static ctors => use placement new)
-static OsPath* systemPath;
 static OsPath* executablePath;
 static OsPath* localAppdataPath;
 static OsPath* roamingAppdataPath;
 static OsPath* personalPath;
 
-const OsPath& wutil_SystemPath()
-{
-	return *systemPath;
-}
-
 const OsPath& wutil_ExecutablePath()
 {
 	return *executablePath;
@@ -214,16 +208,6 @@ static void GetDirectories()
 {
 	WinScopedPreserveLastError s;
 
-	// system directory
-	{
-		const UINT length = GetSystemDirectoryW(0, 0);
-		ENSURE(length != 0);
-		std::wstring path(length, '\0');
-		const UINT charsWritten = GetSystemDirectoryW(&path[0], length);
-		ENSURE(charsWritten == length-1);
-		systemPath = new(wutil_Allocate(sizeof(OsPath))) OsPath(path);
-	}
-
 	// executable's directory
 	executablePath = new(wutil_Allocate(sizeof(OsPath))) OsPath(sys_ExecutablePathname().Parent());
 
@@ -240,8 +224,6 @@ static void GetDirectories()
 
 static void FreeDirectories()
 {
-	systemPath->~OsPath();
-	wutil_Free(systemPath);
 	executablePath->~OsPath();
 	wutil_Free(executablePath);
 	localAppdataPath->~OsPath();
diff --git a/source/lib/sysdep/os/win/wutil.h b/source/lib/sysdep/os/win/wutil.h
index 24a7fb6589..385a0d4630 100644
--- a/source/lib/sysdep/os/win/wutil.h
+++ b/source/lib/sysdep/os/win/wutil.h
@@ -156,7 +156,6 @@ extern Status StatusFromWin();
 //-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
 // directories
 
-extern const OsPath& wutil_SystemPath();
 extern const OsPath& wutil_ExecutablePath();
 extern const OsPath& wutil_LocalAppdataPath();
 extern const OsPath& wutil_RoamingAppdataPath();