diff --git a/drivers/core/device.c b/drivers/core/device.c
index f5def35b5b..cb24a617ce 100644
--- a/drivers/core/device.c
+++ b/drivers/core/device.c
@@ -223,7 +223,7 @@ static void *alloc_priv(int size, uint flags)
 	return priv;
 }
 
-int device_probe_child(struct udevice *dev, void *parent_priv)
+int device_probe(struct udevice *dev)
 {
 	const struct driver *drv;
 	int size = 0;
@@ -270,8 +270,6 @@ int device_probe_child(struct udevice *dev, void *parent_priv)
 				ret = -ENOMEM;
 				goto fail;
 			}
-			if (parent_priv)
-				memcpy(dev->parent_priv, parent_priv, size);
 		}
 
 		ret = device_probe(dev->parent);
@@ -349,11 +347,6 @@ fail:
 	return ret;
 }
 
-int device_probe(struct udevice *dev)
-{
-	return device_probe_child(dev, NULL);
-}
-
 void *dev_get_platdata(struct udevice *dev)
 {
 	if (!dev) {
diff --git a/include/dm/device-internal.h b/include/dm/device-internal.h
index 9388870d0c..b348ad5231 100644
--- a/include/dm/device-internal.h
+++ b/include/dm/device-internal.h
@@ -65,19 +65,6 @@ int device_bind_by_name(struct udevice *parent, bool pre_reloc_only,
  */
 int device_probe(struct udevice *dev);
 
-/**
- * device_probe() - Probe a child device, activating it
- *
- * Activate a device so that it is ready for use. All its parents are probed
- * first. The child is provided with parent data if parent_priv is not NULL.
- *
- * @dev: Pointer to device to probe
- * @parent_priv: Pointer to parent data. If non-NULL then this is provided to
- * the child.
- * @return 0 if OK, -ve on error
- */
-int device_probe_child(struct udevice *dev, void *parent_priv);
-
 /**
  * device_remove() - Remove a device, de-activating it
  *