diff --git a/archivemail.py b/archivemail.py
index 2550b67..1887ee1 100755
--- a/archivemail.py
+++ b/archivemail.py
@@ -395,10 +395,6 @@ class Mbox(mailbox.UnixMailbox):
         vprint("removing file '%s'" % self.mbox_file_name)
         os.remove(file_name)
 
-    def is_empty(self):
-        """Return true if the 'mbox' file is empty, false otherwise"""
-        return (os.path.getsize(self.mbox_file_name) == 0)
-
     def close(self):
         """Close the mbox file"""
         if not self.mbox_file_closed:
diff --git a/test_archivemail.py b/test_archivemail.py
index 9cf1986..b79934f 100755
--- a/test_archivemail.py
+++ b/test_archivemail.py
@@ -99,22 +99,6 @@ class TestCaseInTempdir(unittest.TestCase):
 
 ############ Mbox Class testing ##############
 
-class TestMboxIsEmpty(TestCaseInTempdir):
-    def setUp(self):
-        super(TestMboxIsEmpty, self).setUp()
-        self.empty_name = make_mbox(messages=0)
-        self.not_empty_name = make_mbox(messages=1)
-
-    def testEmpty(self):
-        """is_empty() should be true for an empty mbox"""
-        mbox = archivemail.Mbox(self.empty_name)
-        assert(mbox.is_empty())
-
-    def testNotEmpty(self):
-        """is_empty() should be false for a non-empty mbox"""
-        mbox = archivemail.Mbox(self.not_empty_name)
-        assert(not mbox.is_empty())
-
 class TestMboxLeaveEmpty(TestCaseInTempdir):
     def setUp(self):
         super(TestMboxLeaveEmpty, self).setUp()