diff --git a/arrakis/process_spice.py b/arrakis/process_spice.py
index 668dcb6..e47a061 100644
--- a/arrakis/process_spice.py
+++ b/arrakis/process_spice.py
@@ -13,7 +13,6 @@
 from prefect import flow
 from prefect.task_runners import BaseTaskRunner
 from prefect_dask import DaskTaskRunner
-import shutil
 
 from arrakis import (
     cleanup,
@@ -42,11 +41,6 @@ def process_spice(args, host: str, task_runner: BaseTaskRunner) -> None:
     """
     outfile = f"{args.field}.pipe.test.fits" if args.outfile is None else args.outfile
 
-    cutout_dir = Path(args.datadir) / "cutouts"
-    if cutout_dir.exists() and not args.skip_cutout:
-        logger.warning(f"Cutout directory '{cutout_dir}' exists! Purging...")
-        shutil.rmtree(cutout_dir)
-
     previous_future = None
     previous_future = (
         cutout.cutout_islands.with_options(