diff --git a/src/goto-programs/safety_checker.cpp b/src/goto-programs/safety_checker.cpp
index b1236c08dc7..a22a3a740f8 100644
--- a/src/goto-programs/safety_checker.cpp
+++ b/src/goto-programs/safety_checker.cpp
@@ -11,11 +11,6 @@ Author: Daniel Kroening, kroening@kroening.com
 
 #include "safety_checker.h"
 
-safety_checkert::safety_checkert(const namespacet &_ns):
-  ns(_ns)
-{
-}
-
 safety_checkert::safety_checkert(
   const namespacet &_ns,
   message_handlert &_message_handler):
diff --git a/src/goto-programs/safety_checker.h b/src/goto-programs/safety_checker.h
index 3b3540bb3b0..5f60d2f5b2f 100644
--- a/src/goto-programs/safety_checker.h
+++ b/src/goto-programs/safety_checker.h
@@ -24,12 +24,7 @@ class goto_functionst;
 class safety_checkert:public messaget
 {
 public:
-  explicit safety_checkert(
-    const namespacet &_ns);
-
-  explicit safety_checkert(
-    const namespacet &_ns,
-    message_handlert &_message_handler);
+  safety_checkert(const namespacet &_ns, message_handlert &_message_handler);
 
   enum class resultt
   {