diff --git a/sub/osd.c b/sub/osd.c
index e2f3dddd81..a3da1dd3ca 100644
--- a/sub/osd.c
+++ b/sub/osd.c
@@ -152,7 +152,6 @@ struct osd_state *osd_create(struct mpv_global *global)
     osd->objs[OSDTYPE_SUB]->is_sub = true;
     osd->objs[OSDTYPE_SUB2]->is_sub = true;
 
-    osd_init_backend(osd);
     return osd;
 }
 
diff --git a/sub/osd_libass.c b/sub/osd_libass.c
index 45da2b0b3c..8ce203e66e 100644
--- a/sub/osd_libass.c
+++ b/sub/osd_libass.c
@@ -41,10 +41,6 @@ static const char osd_font_pfb[] =
 static void append_ass(struct ass_state *ass, struct mp_osd_res *res,
                        ASS_Image **img_list, bool *changed);
 
-void osd_init_backend(struct osd_state *osd)
-{
-}
-
 static void create_ass_renderer(struct osd_state *osd, struct ass_state *ass)
 {
     if (ass->render)
diff --git a/sub/osd_state.h b/sub/osd_state.h
index 9bb48f8153..ef0ff20a57 100644
--- a/sub/osd_state.h
+++ b/sub/osd_state.h
@@ -88,7 +88,6 @@ struct osd_state {
 // defined in osd_libass.c
 struct sub_bitmaps *osd_object_get_bitmaps(struct osd_state *osd,
                                            struct osd_object *obj, int format);
-void osd_init_backend(struct osd_state *osd);
 void osd_destroy_backend(struct osd_state *osd);
 
 #endif