diff --git a/src/or/connection.c b/src/or/connection.c
index 118e239176..4fbbaf1abd 100644
--- a/src/or/connection.c
+++ b/src/or/connection.c
@@ -4438,32 +4438,6 @@ connection_get_by_type_state_rendquery(int type, int state,
          ));
 }
 
-#define CONN_FIRST_AND_FREE_TEMPLATE(sl)       \
-  STMT_BEGIN                                   \
-    if (smartlist_len(sl) > 0) {               \
-      void *first_item = smartlist_get(sl, 0); \
-      smartlist_free(sl);                      \
-      return first_item;                       \
-    } else {                                   \
-      smartlist_free(sl);                      \
-      return NULL;                             \
-    }                                          \
-  STMT_END
-
-/** Return a directory connection (if any one exists) that is fetching
- * the item described by <b>purpose</b>/<b>resource</b>, otherwise return NULL.
- */
-dir_connection_t *
-connection_dir_get_by_purpose_and_resource(
-                                           int purpose,
-                                           const char *resource)
-{
-  smartlist_t *conns = connection_dir_list_by_purpose_and_resource(
-                                                          purpose,
-                                                          resource);
-  CONN_FIRST_AND_FREE_TEMPLATE(conns);
-}
-
 /** Return a new smartlist of dir_connection_t * from get_connection_array()
  * that satisfy conn_test on connection_t *conn_var, and dirconn_test on
  * dir_connection_t *dirconn_var. conn_var must be of CONN_TYPE_DIR and not
@@ -4504,25 +4478,6 @@ connection_dir_list_by_purpose_and_resource(
                                          dirconn->requested_resource));
 }
 
-/** Return a directory connection (if any one exists) that is fetching
- * the item described by <b>purpose</b>/<b>resource</b>/<b>state</b>,
- * otherwise return NULL. */
-dir_connection_t *
-connection_dir_get_by_purpose_resource_and_state(
-                                                 int purpose,
-                                                 const char *resource,
-                                                 int state)
-{
-  smartlist_t *conns =
-    connection_dir_list_by_purpose_resource_and_state(
-                                                      purpose,
-                                                      resource,
-                                                      state);
-  CONN_FIRST_AND_FREE_TEMPLATE(conns);
-}
-
-#undef CONN_FIRST_AND_FREE_TEMPLATE
-
 /** Return a list of directory connections that are fetching the item
  * described by <b>purpose</b>/<b>resource</b>/<b>state</b>. If there are
  * none, return an empty list. This list must be freed using smartlist_free,
diff --git a/src/or/connection.h b/src/or/connection.h
index 45175cd5a2..4835235fba 100644
--- a/src/or/connection.h
+++ b/src/or/connection.h
@@ -192,13 +192,6 @@ MOCK_DECL(connection_t *,connection_get_by_type_addr_port_purpose,(int type,
 connection_t *connection_get_by_type_state(int type, int state);
 connection_t *connection_get_by_type_state_rendquery(int type, int state,
                                                      const char *rendquery);
-dir_connection_t *connection_dir_get_by_purpose_and_resource(
-                                                  int purpose,
-                                                  const char *resource);
-dir_connection_t *connection_dir_get_by_purpose_resource_and_state(
-                                                  int purpose,
-                                                  const char *resource,
-                                                  int state);
 smartlist_t *connection_dir_list_by_purpose_and_resource(
                                                   int purpose,
                                                   const char *resource);