diff --git a/libmpdemux/demux_lavf.c b/libmpdemux/demux_lavf.c
index 69cb0f02fc..5802f1068a 100644
--- a/libmpdemux/demux_lavf.c
+++ b/libmpdemux/demux_lavf.c
@@ -44,7 +44,6 @@
 #include "demuxer.h"
 #include "stheader.h"
 #include "m_option.h"
-#include "sub/sub.h"
 
 #include "mp_taglists.h"
 
@@ -812,7 +811,6 @@ static int demux_lavf_fill_buffer(demuxer_t *demux, demux_stream_t *dsds)
     } else if (id == demux->sub->id) {
         // subtitle
         ds = demux->sub;
-        sub_utf8 = 1;
     } else {
         talloc_free(pkt);
         return 1;
diff --git a/libmpdemux/demux_mkv.c b/libmpdemux/demux_mkv.c
index aae4090ede..10427f8a82 100644
--- a/libmpdemux/demux_mkv.c
+++ b/libmpdemux/demux_mkv.c
@@ -50,8 +50,6 @@
 
 #include "mp_msg.h"
 
-#include "sub/sub.h"
-
 
 static const unsigned char sipr_swaps[38][2] = {
     {0,63},{1,22},{2,44},{3,90},{5,81},{7,31},{8,86},{9,58},{10,36},{12,68},
@@ -2077,7 +2075,6 @@ static int handle_block(demuxer_t *demuxer, uint8_t *block, uint64_t length,
                    "lacing. This is abnormal and not supported.\n");
             use_this_block = 0;
         }
-        sub_utf8 = 1; // XXX this variable should be eventually removed
     } else
         use_this_block = 0;