diff --git a/synapse/util/caches/__init__.py b/synapse/util/caches/__init__.py
index 9fd35a813..4a83c46d9 100644
--- a/synapse/util/caches/__init__.py
+++ b/synapse/util/caches/__init__.py
@@ -18,8 +18,6 @@ import os
 
 CACHE_SIZE_FACTOR = float(os.environ.get("SYNAPSE_CACHE_FACTOR", 0.1))
 
-DEBUG_CACHES = False
-
 metrics = synapse.metrics.get_metrics_for("synapse.util.caches")
 
 caches_by_name = {}