diff --git a/nova/objects/fields.py b/nova/objects/fields.py
index ae64bbbce2..8e232c0abe 100644
--- a/nova/objects/fields.py
+++ b/nova/objects/fields.py
@@ -552,9 +552,6 @@ class VIFModel(BaseNovaEnum):
 
     ALL = network_model.VIF_MODEL_ALL
 
-    def _get_legacy(self, value):
-        return value
-
     def coerce(self, obj, attr, value):
         # Some compat for strings we'd see in the legacy
         # hw_vif_model image property