diff --git a/pkg/urbit/vere/king.c b/pkg/urbit/vere/king.c
index d907ba6d10..d441ad2a1c 100644
--- a/pkg/urbit/vere/king.c
+++ b/pkg/urbit/vere/king.c
@@ -2,7 +2,6 @@
 **
 ** the main loop of the daemon process
 */
-#include <ctype.h>
 #include "all.h"
 #include "ur/ur.h"
 #include "vere/ivory.h"