diff --git a/doc/developer.texi b/doc/developer.texi
index b4aef256c0..6a67515980 100644
--- a/doc/developer.texi
+++ b/doc/developer.texi
@@ -365,15 +365,6 @@ later on.
 Also if you have doubts about splitting or not splitting, do not hesitate to
 ask/discuss it on the developer mailing list.
 
-@subheading Ask before you change the build system (configure, etc).
-Do not commit changes to the build system (Makefiles, configure script)
-which change behavior, defaults etc, without asking first. The same
-applies to compiler warning fixes, trivial looking fixes and to code
-maintained by other developers. We usually have a reason for doing things
-the way we do. Send your changes as patches to the ffmpeg-devel mailing
-list, and if the code maintainers say OK, you may commit. This does not
-apply to files you wrote and/or maintain.
-
 @subheading Cosmetic changes should be kept in separate patches.
 We refuse source indentation and other cosmetic changes if they are mixed
 with functional changes, such commits will be rejected and removed. Every