diff --git a/src/skins/vector/css/themes/_base.scss b/src/skins/vector/css/themes/_base.scss
index fcc3c7b96..3a7eac562 100644
--- a/src/skins/vector/css/themes/_base.scss
+++ b/src/skins/vector/css/themes/_base.scss
@@ -26,10 +26,6 @@ $other-user-pill-bg-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1);
 $pinned-unread-color: #ff0064; // $warning-color
 $pinned-color: #888;
 
-// groups
-$group-my-groups-placeholder-bg: #f7f7f7;
-$group-my-groups-placeholder-fg: #888;
-
 // informational plinth
 $info-plinth-bg-color: #f7f7f7;
 $info-plinth-fg-color: #888;