diff --git a/processor/src/main/java/org/mapstruct/ap/internal/util/Fields.java b/processor/src/main/java/org/mapstruct/ap/internal/util/Fields.java
index 8e16a95274..b2f8ac1442 100644
--- a/processor/src/main/java/org/mapstruct/ap/internal/util/Fields.java
+++ b/processor/src/main/java/org/mapstruct/ap/internal/util/Fields.java
@@ -6,13 +6,7 @@
 package org.mapstruct.ap.internal.util;
 
 import javax.lang.model.element.Modifier;
-import javax.lang.model.element.TypeElement;
 import javax.lang.model.element.VariableElement;
-import javax.lang.model.type.DeclaredType;
-import javax.lang.model.type.TypeKind;
-import javax.lang.model.type.TypeMirror;
-
-import org.mapstruct.ap.spi.TypeHierarchyErroneousException;
 
 /**
  * Provides functionality around {@link VariableElement}s.
@@ -35,17 +29,4 @@ static boolean isPublic(VariableElement method) {
     private static boolean isNotStatic(VariableElement method) {
         return !method.getModifiers().contains( Modifier.STATIC );
     }
-
-    private static TypeElement asTypeElement(TypeMirror mirror) {
-        return (TypeElement) ( (DeclaredType) mirror ).asElement();
-    }
-
-    private static boolean hasNonObjectSuperclass(TypeElement element) {
-        if ( element.getSuperclass().getKind() == TypeKind.ERROR ) {
-            throw new TypeHierarchyErroneousException( element );
-        }
-
-        return element.getSuperclass().getKind() == TypeKind.DECLARED
-            && !asTypeElement( element.getSuperclass() ).getQualifiedName().toString().equals( "java.lang.Object" );
-    }
 }