diff --git a/core/io/backend/backend.factor b/core/io/backend/backend.factor
index 49bcee73be..8d39d1cc68 100644
--- a/core/io/backend/backend.factor
+++ b/core/io/backend/backend.factor
@@ -21,12 +21,8 @@ HOOK: init-stdio io-backend ( -- )
 
 HOOK: io-multiplex io-backend ( nanos -- )
 
-HOOK: normalize-directory io-backend ( path -- path' )
-
 HOOK: normalize-path io-backend ( path -- path' )
 
-M: object normalize-directory normalize-path ;
-
 : set-io-backend ( io-backend -- )
     io-backend set-global init-io init-stdio
     "io.files" startup-hooks get at call( -- ) ;