diff --git a/cmd/syncthing/config.go b/cmd/syncthing/config.go
index f0c7ecce..e4c87486 100644
--- a/cmd/syncthing/config.go
+++ b/cmd/syncthing/config.go
@@ -33,7 +33,6 @@ type NodeConfiguration struct {
 type OptionsConfiguration struct {
 	ListenAddress      []string `xml:"listenAddress" default:":22000" ini:"listen-address"`
 	ReadOnly           bool     `xml:"readOnly" ini:"read-only"`
-	FollowSymlinks     bool     `xml:"followSymlinks" default:"true" ini:"follow-symlinks"`
 	GUIEnabled         bool     `xml:"guiEnabled" default:"true" ini:"gui-enabled"`
 	GUIAddress         string   `xml:"guiAddress" default:"127.0.0.1:8080" ini:"gui-address"`
 	GlobalAnnServer    string   `xml:"globalAnnounceServer" default:"announce.syncthing.net:22025" ini:"global-announce-server"`
diff --git a/cmd/syncthing/config_test.go b/cmd/syncthing/config_test.go
index da493ae3..910c3750 100644
--- a/cmd/syncthing/config_test.go
+++ b/cmd/syncthing/config_test.go
@@ -11,7 +11,6 @@ func TestDefaultValues(t *testing.T) {
 	expected := OptionsConfiguration{
 		ListenAddress:      []string{":22000"},
 		ReadOnly:           false,
-		FollowSymlinks:     true,
 		GUIEnabled:         true,
 		GUIAddress:         "127.0.0.1:8080",
 		GlobalAnnServer:    "announce.syncthing.net:22025",
@@ -70,7 +69,6 @@ func TestOverriddenValues(t *testing.T) {
        <listenAddress>:23000</listenAddress>
         <readOnly>true</readOnly>
         <allowDelete>false</allowDelete>
-        <followSymlinks>false</followSymlinks>
         <guiEnabled>false</guiEnabled>
         <guiAddress>125.2.2.2:8080</guiAddress>
         <globalAnnounceServer>syncthing.nym.se:22025</globalAnnounceServer>
@@ -89,7 +87,6 @@ func TestOverriddenValues(t *testing.T) {
 	expected := OptionsConfiguration{
 		ListenAddress:      []string{":23000"},
 		ReadOnly:           true,
-		FollowSymlinks:     false,
 		GUIEnabled:         false,
 		GUIAddress:         "125.2.2.2:8080",
 		GlobalAnnServer:    "syncthing.nym.se:22025",
diff --git a/cmd/syncthing/model.go b/cmd/syncthing/model.go
index fb827cf1..993702dc 100644
--- a/cmd/syncthing/model.go
+++ b/cmd/syncthing/model.go
@@ -557,7 +557,6 @@ func (m *Model) ScanRepo(repo string) {
 	w := &scanner.Walker{
 		Dir:            m.repoDirs[repo],
 		IgnoreFile:     ".stignore",
-		FollowSymlinks: cfg.Options.FollowSymlinks,
 		BlockSize:      BlockSize,
 		TempNamer:      defTempNamer,
 		Suppressor:     sup,
diff --git a/scanner/walk.go b/scanner/walk.go
index d8bf3442..a5dee39f 100644
--- a/scanner/walk.go
+++ b/scanner/walk.go
@@ -16,9 +16,6 @@ import (
 type Walker struct {
 	// Dir is the base directory for the walk
 	Dir string
-	// If FollowSymlinks is true, symbolic links directly under Dir will be followed.
-	// Symbolic links at deeper levels are never followed regardless of this flag.
-	FollowSymlinks bool
 	// BlockSize controls the size of the block used when hashing.
 	BlockSize int
 	// If IgnoreFile is not empty, it is the name used for the file that holds ignore patterns.
@@ -58,7 +55,7 @@ func (w *Walker) Walk() (files []File, ignore map[string][]string) {
 	w.lazyInit()
 
 	if debug {
-		dlog.Println("Walk", w.Dir, w.FollowSymlinks, w.BlockSize, w.IgnoreFile)
+		dlog.Println("Walk", w.Dir, w.BlockSize, w.IgnoreFile)
 	}
 	t0 := time.Now()
 
@@ -68,27 +65,6 @@ func (w *Walker) Walk() (files []File, ignore map[string][]string) {
 	filepath.Walk(w.Dir, w.loadIgnoreFiles(w.Dir, ignore))
 	filepath.Walk(w.Dir, hashFiles)
 
-	if w.FollowSymlinks {
-		d, err := os.Open(w.Dir)
-		if err != nil {
-			return
-		}
-		defer d.Close()
-
-		fis, err := d.Readdir(-1)
-		if err != nil {
-			return
-		}
-
-		for _, info := range fis {
-			if info.Mode()&os.ModeSymlink != 0 {
-				dir := filepath.Join(w.Dir, info.Name()) + "/"
-				filepath.Walk(dir, w.loadIgnoreFiles(dir, ignore))
-				filepath.Walk(dir, hashFiles)
-			}
-		}
-	}
-
 	if debug {
 		t1 := time.Now()
 		d := t1.Sub(t0).Seconds()