diff --git a/js/id/format/xml.js b/js/id/format/xml.js
index 928c9c97c..e092a59af 100644
--- a/js/id/format/xml.js
+++ b/js/id/format/xml.js
@@ -1,8 +1,4 @@
 iD.format.XML = {
-    decode: function(s) {
-        return s.replace(/>/g,'&gt;').replace(/</g,'&lt;').replace(/"/g,'&quot;');
-    },
-
     // Generate Changeset XML. Returns a string.
     changeset: function(tags) {
         return (new XMLSerializer()).serializeToString(
diff --git a/test/spec/format/xml.js b/test/spec/format/xml.js
index 49491bd01..98cd33028 100644
--- a/test/spec/format/xml.js
+++ b/test/spec/format/xml.js
@@ -2,12 +2,6 @@ describe('iD.format.XML', function() {
     var node = iD.Node({ id: 'n-1', type: 'node', loc: [-77, 38] }),
         way  = iD.Way({ id: 'w-1', type: 'way', nodes: [] });
 
-    describe('#decode', function() {
-        it('decodes xml', function() {
-            expect(iD.format.XML.decode('<">')).to.eql('&lt;&quot;&gt;');
-        });
-    });
-
     describe('#osmChange', function() {
         it('converts change data to XML', function() {
             var jxon = iD.format.XML.osmChange('jfire', '1234', {created: [node], modified: [way], deleted: []});