diff --git a/eth/backend.go b/eth/backend.go
index f7b67be4dc..075856e98c 100644
--- a/eth/backend.go
+++ b/eth/backend.go
@@ -18,7 +18,6 @@
 package eth
 
 import (
-	"encoding/json"
 	"fmt"
 	"math/big"
 	"runtime"
@@ -42,7 +41,6 @@ import (
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/eth/gasprice"
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/eth/protocols/eth"
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/eth/protocols/snap"
-	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/eth/tracers"
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/ethdb"
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/event"
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/internal/ethapi"
@@ -197,17 +195,6 @@ func New(stack *node.Node, config *ethconfig.Config) (*Ethereum, error) {
 			StateScheme:         scheme,
 		}
 	)
-	if config.VMTrace != "" {
-		var traceConfig json.RawMessage
-		if config.VMTraceJsonConfig != "" {
-			traceConfig = json.RawMessage(config.VMTraceJsonConfig)
-		}
-		t, err := tracers.LiveDirectory.New(config.VMTrace, traceConfig)
-		if err != nil {
-			return nil, fmt.Errorf("failed to create tracer %s: %v", config.VMTrace, err)
-		}
-		vmConfig.Tracer = t
-	}
 	// Override the chain config with provided settings.
 	var overrides core.ChainOverrides
 	if config.OverrideCancun != nil {