diff --git a/tools/Makefile.am b/tools/Makefile.am
index b813f55f9..769a81a00 100644
--- a/tools/Makefile.am
+++ b/tools/Makefile.am
@@ -69,7 +69,7 @@ else
 bin_PROGRAMS += gpgconf-w32
 endif
 
-libexec_PROGRAMS = gpg-check-pattern gpg-pair-tool dotlock
+libexec_PROGRAMS = gpg-check-pattern gpg-pair-tool
 if !HAVE_W32_SYSTEM
 libexec_PROGRAMS += gpg-auth
 endif
@@ -203,12 +203,6 @@ gpg_auth_LDADD = $(common_libs) \
                  $(GPG_ERROR_LIBS) \
                  $(LIBINTL) $(NETLIBS) $(LIBICONV)
 
-dotlock_SOURCES = dotlock.c
-dotlock_LDADD = $(common_libs) \
-		 $(LIBGCRYPT_LIBS) \
-		 $(GPG_ERROR_LIBS) \
-		 $(LIBINTL) $(NETLIBS) $(LIBICONV)
-
 # Instead of a symlink we install a simple wrapper script for the new
 # gpg-wks-client location.  We assume bin is a sibling of libexec.
 install-exec-local:
diff --git a/tools/dotlock.c b/tools/dotlock.c
deleted file mode 100644
index 3dfb86c80..000000000
--- a/tools/dotlock.c
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,115 +0,0 @@
-/* dotlock.c - A utility to handle dotlock by command line.
- *	Copyright (C) 2023 g10 Code GmbH
- *
- * This file is part of GnuPG.
- *
- * GnuPG is free software; you can redistribute it and/or modify
- * it under the terms of the GNU General Public License as published by
- * the Free Software Foundation; either version 3 of the License, or
- * (at your option) any later version.
- *
- * GnuPG is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
- * but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
- * MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the
- * GNU General Public License for more details.
- *
- * You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License
- * along with this program; if not, see <https://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
- * SPDX-License-Identifier: GPL-3.0-or-later
- */
-
-#include <config.h>
-
-#include <stdio.h>
-#include <stdlib.h>
-#include <stdarg.h>
-#include <string.h>
-#include <errno.h>
-#include <unistd.h>
-
-#include <gpg-error.h>
-#include "../common/util.h"
-#include "../common/stringhelp.h"
-#include "../common/dotlock.h"
-
-static void
-lock (const char *filename)
-{
-  dotlock_t h;
-  unsigned int flags = DOTLOCK_LOCK_BY_PARENT;
-
-  h = dotlock_create (filename, flags);
-  if (!h)
-    {
-      perror ("error creating lock file");
-      exit (1);
-    }
-
-  if (dotlock_take (h, 0))
-    {
-      perror ("error taking lock");
-      dotlock_destroy (h);
-      exit (1);
-    }
-
-  dotlock_destroy (h);
-}
-
-static void
-unlock (const char *filename)
-{
-  dotlock_t h;
-  unsigned int flags = (DOTLOCK_LOCK_BY_PARENT | DOTLOCK_LOCKED);
-
-  h = dotlock_create (filename, flags);
-  if (!h)
-    {
-      perror ("no lock file");
-      exit (1);
-    }
-
-  dotlock_release (h);
-  dotlock_destroy (h);
-}
-
-
-int
-main (int argc, const char *argv[])
-{
-  const char *name;
-  const char *fname;
-  char *filename;
-  int op_unlock = 0;
-
-  if (argc >= 2 && !strcmp (argv[1], "-u"))
-    {
-      op_unlock = 1;
-      argc--;
-      argv++;
-    }
-
-  if (argc != 2)
-    {
-      printf ("Usage: %s [-u] NAME\n", argv[0]);
-      exit (1);
-    }
-
-  name = argv[1];
-
-  if (!strcmp (name, "pubring.db"))
-    /* Keybox pubring.db lock */
-    fname = "public-keys.d/pubring.db";
-  else
-    /* Other locks.  */
-    fname = name;
-
-  filename = make_absfilename (gnupg_homedir (), fname, NULL);
-
-  if (op_unlock)
-    unlock (filename);
-  else
-    lock (filename);
-
-  xfree (filename);
-  return 0;
-}