diff --git a/repo2docker/buildpacks/julia.py b/repo2docker/buildpacks/julia.py
index 3a8f75ed..b56f9093 100644
--- a/repo2docker/buildpacks/julia.py
+++ b/repo2docker/buildpacks/julia.py
@@ -22,9 +22,6 @@ class JuliaBuildPack(CondaBuildPack):
         '1': '1.0.0',
     }
 
-    def _short_version(version_str):
-        return '.'.join(version_str.split('.')[:2])
-
     @property
     def julia_version(self):
         require = self.binder_path('REQUIRE')