diff --git a/common.c b/common.c
index 32f853c2f..e39febd1e 100644
--- a/common.c
+++ b/common.c
@@ -71,13 +71,6 @@ parts of fish.
 
 struct termios shell_modes;      
 
-/**
-   Number of error encountered. This is reset after each command, and
-   used to limit the number of error messages on commands with many
-   string convertion problems.
-*/
-static int error_count=0;
-
 int error_max=1;
 
 wchar_t ellipsis_char;
@@ -271,11 +264,6 @@ wchar_t *str2wcs_internal( const char *in, wchar_t *out )
 	return out;	
 }
 
-void error_reset()
-{
-	error_count=0;
-}
-
 char *wcs2str( const wchar_t *in )
 {
 	char *out;	
diff --git a/reader.c b/reader.c
index 8e7b413d3..f1301277f 100644
--- a/reader.c
+++ b/reader.c
@@ -2287,7 +2287,6 @@ static int read_i()
 		{
 			prev_end_loop=0;
 		}
-		error_reset();
 
 	}
 	reader_pop();
@@ -2935,7 +2934,6 @@ static int read_ni( int fd )
 		free( buff );
 		res=1;
 	}
-	error_reset();
 	return res;
 }