diff --git a/bot_bottle/manifest.py b/bot_bottle/manifest.py
index e69b9ec..529ba50 100644
--- a/bot_bottle/manifest.py
+++ b/bot_bottle/manifest.py
@@ -44,7 +44,6 @@ on-disk files.
 from __future__ import annotations
 
 import ipaddress
-import json
 import os
 import re
 from dataclasses import dataclass, field, replace
@@ -969,15 +968,6 @@ def _section_dict(value: object, label: str) -> dict[str, object]:
     return _as_json_object(value, label)
 
 
-def _load_json_or_die(path: Path) -> dict[str, object]:
-    try:
-        with path.open() as f:
-            doc: object = json.load(f)
-    except json.JSONDecodeError:
-        raise ManifestError(f"bot-bottle.json at {path} is not valid JSON")
-    return _as_json_object(doc, f"bot-bottle.json at {path}")
-
-
 def _opt_str(value: object, label: str) -> str:
     if value is None:
         return ""