diff --git a/generator/tests_c_api.ml b/generator/tests_c_api.ml
index 598ea2d8e..1c85db843 100644
--- a/generator/tests_c_api.ml
+++ b/generator/tests_c_api.ml
@@ -377,10 +377,6 @@ and generate_test_command_call ?(expect_error = false) ?test ?ret test_name cmd=
   List.iter (
     function
     | OptString _, "NULL", _ -> ()
-    | String _, arg, sym
-      when String.length arg >= 7 && String.sub arg 0 7 = "GETKEY:" ->
-      pr "  const char *%s = guestfs_get_private (g, \"%s\");\n"
-        sym (c_quote (String.sub arg 7 (String.length arg - 7)))
     | Pathname _, arg, sym
     | Device _, arg, sym
     | Mountable _, arg, sym
diff --git a/tests/c-api/tests-main.c b/tests/c-api/tests-main.c
index 1e569da82..d787cf744 100644
--- a/tests/c-api/tests-main.c
+++ b/tests/c-api/tests-main.c
@@ -460,12 +460,6 @@ add_disk (guestfs_h *g, const char *key, off_t size)
     printf ("FAIL: guestfs_set_event_callback (GUESTFS_EVENT_CLOSE)\n");
     exit (EXIT_FAILURE);
   }
-
-  /* Record the real filename in the named private key.  Tests can
-   * retrieve these names using the magic "GETKEY:<key>" String
-   * parameter.
-   */
-  guestfs_set_private (g, key, filename);
 }
 
 /* Create the handle, with attached disks. */