diff --git a/gitlab/functions.sh b/gitlab/functions.sh
index 2eb0cf0cc812cb968358b7342e275a95d91c31d1..746f8e09c2c408e0a0647ba8badaae1d4457b9af 100644
--- a/gitlab/functions.sh
+++ b/gitlab/functions.sh
@@ -203,18 +203,6 @@ prepare_build_env() {
 }
 
 
-# Appends a value to a variable if that is not already set
-# $1: variable name to append the value
-# $2: the value to be appended
-append_if_not_set() {
-  if [ -z "${1+abc}" ]; then
-    eval $1="$2"
-  elif [[ "${!1}" != "*${2}*" ]]; then
-    eval $1="${!1} $2"
-  fi
-}
-
-
 # Checks if an array contains a value
 # taken from here: https://stackoverflow.com/questions/3685970/check-if-an-array-contains-a-value
 # Parameters: <value-to-check> <array-variable>