diff --git a/src/core/background.c b/src/core/background.c
deleted file mode 100644
index e0dceaef..00000000
--- a/src/core/background.c
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,49 +0,0 @@
-#include "background.h"
-
-static struct background backgrounds[0]
-	__table_start ( struct background, background );
-static struct background backgrounds_end[0]
-	__table_end ( struct background, background );
-
-/** @file */
-
-/**
- * Call send method of all background protocols
- *
- * @v timestamp		Current time
- * @ret None		-
- * @err None		-
- *
- * This calls each background protocol's background::send() method.
- */
-void background_send ( unsigned long timestamp ) {
-	struct background *background;
-
-	for ( background = backgrounds ; background < backgrounds_end ;
-	      background++ ) {
-		if ( background->send )
-			background->send ( timestamp );
-	}
-}
-
-/**
- * Call process method of all background protocols
- *
- * @v timestamp		Current time
- * @v ptype		Packet type
- * @v ip		IP header, if present
- * @ret None		-
- * @err None		-
- *
- * This calls each background protocol's background::process() method.
- */
-void background_process ( unsigned long timestamp, unsigned short ptype,
-			  struct iphdr *ip ) {
-	struct background *background;
-
-	for ( background = backgrounds ; background < backgrounds_end ;
-	      background++ ) {
-		if ( background->process )
-			background->process ( timestamp, ptype, ip );
-	}
-}
diff --git a/src/include/background.h b/src/include/background.h
deleted file mode 100644
index 6f39d394..00000000
--- a/src/include/background.h
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,52 +0,0 @@
-#ifndef BACKGROUND_H
-#define BACKGROUND_H
-
-/** @file
- *
- * Background protocols
- *
- * Some protocols (e.g. ARP, IGMP) operate in the background; the
- * upper layers are not aware of their operation.  When an ARP query
- * for the local station's IP address arrives, Etherboot must reply to
- * it regardless of what other operations are currently in progress.
- *
- * Background protocols are called in two circumstances: when
- * Etherboot is about to poll for a packet, and when Etherboot has
- * received a packet that the upper layer (whatever that may currently
- * be) isn't interested in.
- *
- */
-
-#include <gpxe/tables.h>
-#include "ip.h"
-
-/** A background protocol */
-struct background {
-	/** Send method
-	 *
-	 * This method will be called whenever Etherboot is about to
-	 * poll for a packet.  The background protocol should use this
-	 * method to send out any periodic transmissions that it may
-	 * require.
-	 */
-	void ( *send ) ( unsigned long timestamp );
-	/** Process method
-	 *
-	 * This method will be called whenever Etherboot has received
-	 * a packet and doesn't know what to do with it.
-	 */
-	void ( *process ) ( unsigned long timestamp, unsigned short ptype,
-			    struct iphdr *ip );
-};
-
-/** A member of the background protocols table */
-#define __background __table ( struct background, background, 01 )
-
-/* Functions in background.c */
-
-extern void background_send ( unsigned long timestamp );
-
-extern void background_process ( unsigned long timestamp, unsigned short ptype,
-				 struct iphdr *ip );
-
-#endif /* BACKGROUND_H */