diff --git a/include/opaque.h b/include/opaque.h
index 893db7807..7f031809b 100644
--- a/include/opaque.h
+++ b/include/opaque.h
@@ -54,7 +54,6 @@ extern _X_EXPORT Bool disableBackingStore;
 extern _X_EXPORT Bool enableBackingStore;
 extern _X_EXPORT Bool enableIndirectGLX;
 extern _X_EXPORT Bool PartialNetwork;
-extern _X_EXPORT Bool RunFromSigStopParent;
 
 #ifdef RLIMIT_DATA
 extern _X_EXPORT int limitDataSpace;
diff --git a/os/connection.c b/os/connection.c
index 0936d5a03..a726717f9 100644
--- a/os/connection.c
+++ b/os/connection.c
@@ -121,8 +121,6 @@ struct ospoll   *server_poll;
 Bool NewOutputPending;          /* not yet attempted to write some new output */
 Bool NoListenAll;               /* Don't establish any listening sockets */
 
-Bool RunFromSigStopParent;      /* send SIGSTOP to our own process; Upstart (or
-                                   equivalent) will send SIGCONT back. */
 static char dynamic_display[7]; /* display name */
 Bool PartialNetwork;            /* continue even if unable to bind all addrs */
 #if !defined(WIN32)
@@ -205,8 +203,6 @@ NotifyParentProcess(void)
             kill(ParentProcess, SIGUSR1);
         }
     }
-    if (RunFromSigStopParent)
-        raise(SIGSTOP);
 #ifdef HAVE_SYSTEMD_DAEMON
     /* If we have been started as a systemd service, tell systemd that
        we are ready. Otherwise sd_notify() won't do anything. */
diff --git a/os/utils.c b/os/utils.c
index 469d6f124..0c788dcbb 100644
--- a/os/utils.c
+++ b/os/utils.c
@@ -580,7 +580,6 @@ UseMsg(void)
 #endif
     ErrorF("-dumbSched             Disable smart scheduling and threaded input, enable old behavior\n");
     ErrorF("-schedInterval int     Set scheduler interval in msec\n");
-    ErrorF("-sigstop               Enable SIGSTOP based startup\n");
     ErrorF("+extension name        Enable extension\n");
     ErrorF("-extension name        Disable extension\n");
     ListStaticExtensions();
@@ -1031,9 +1030,6 @@ ProcessCommandLine(int argc, char *argv[])
             else
                 UseMsg();
         }
-        else if (strcmp(argv[i], "-sigstop") == 0) {
-            RunFromSigStopParent = TRUE;
-        }
         else if (strcmp(argv[i], "+extension") == 0) {
             if (++i < argc) {
                 if (!EnableDisableExtension(argv[i], TRUE))