diff --git a/piker/config.py b/piker/config.py
index 80f7b1d1..3bbf99b4 100644
--- a/piker/config.py
+++ b/piker/config.py
@@ -378,51 +378,3 @@ def load_accounts(
     accounts['paper'] = None
 
     return accounts
-
-
-# XXX: Recursive getting & setting
-
-def get_value(_dict, _section):
-    subs = _section.split('.')
-    if len(subs) > 1:
-        return get_value(
-            _dict[subs[0]],
-            '.'.join(subs[1:]),
-        )
-
-    else:
-        return _dict[_section]
-
-
-def set_value(_dict, _section, val):
-    subs = _section.split('.')
-    if len(subs) > 1:
-        if subs[0] not in _dict:
-            _dict[subs[0]] = {}
-
-        return set_value(
-            _dict[subs[0]],
-            '.'.join(subs[1:]),
-            val
-        )
-
-    else:
-        _dict[_section] = val
-
-
-def del_value(_dict, _section):
-    subs = _section.split('.')
-    if len(subs) > 1:
-        if subs[0] not in _dict:
-            return
-
-        return del_value(
-            _dict[subs[0]],
-            '.'.join(subs[1:])
-        )
-
-    else:
-        if _section not in _dict:
-            return
-
-        del _dict[_section]