diff --git a/configure.ac b/configure.ac
index 2b3635f1..51bb20ce 100644
--- a/configure.ac
+++ b/configure.ac
@@ -185,7 +185,6 @@ AC_DEFINE_UNQUOTED(PASSWD_PROGRAM, "$shadow_cv_passwd_dir/passwd",
 
 dnl XXX - quick hack, should disappear before anyone notices :).
 dnl XXX - I just read the above message :).
-AC_DEFINE(USE_SYSLOG, 1, [Define to use syslog().])
 if test "$ac_cv_func_ruserok" = "yes"; then
 	AC_DEFINE(RLOGIN, 1, [Define if login should support the -r flag for rlogind.])
 	AC_DEFINE(RUSEROK, 0, [Define to the ruserok() "success" return value (0 or 1).])
diff --git a/lib/defines.h b/lib/defines.h
index d40f05de..b2185793 100644
--- a/lib/defines.h
+++ b/lib/defines.h
@@ -85,7 +85,6 @@ static inline void memzero(void *ptr, size_t size)
 #endif
 #endif
 
-#ifdef USE_SYSLOG
 #include <syslog.h>
 
 #ifndef LOG_WARN
@@ -132,14 +131,6 @@ static inline void memzero(void *ptr, size_t size)
 #define SYSLOG(x) syslog x
 #endif				/* !ENABLE_NLS */
 
-#else				/* !USE_SYSLOG */
-
-#define SYSLOG(x)		/* empty */
-#define openlog(a,b,c)		/* empty */
-#define closelog()		/* empty */
-
-#endif				/* !USE_SYSLOG */
-
 /* The default syslog settings can now be changed here,
    in just one place.  */
 
diff --git a/lib/getdef.c b/lib/getdef.c
index dcd1fe72..e90c79ef 100644
--- a/lib/getdef.c
+++ b/lib/getdef.c
@@ -132,10 +132,8 @@ static struct itemdef def_table[] = {
 #ifndef USE_PAM
 	PAMDEFS
 #endif
-#ifdef USE_SYSLOG
 	{"SYSLOG_SG_ENAB", NULL},
 	{"SYSLOG_SU_ENAB", NULL},
-#endif
 #ifdef WITH_TCB
 	{"TCB_AUTH_GROUP", NULL},
 	{"TCB_SYMLINKS", NULL},
diff --git a/src/newgrp.c b/src/newgrp.c
index 966c25dd..ac18f0ca 100644
--- a/src/newgrp.c
+++ b/src/newgrp.c
@@ -231,7 +231,6 @@ failure:
 	exit (EXIT_FAILURE);
 }
 
-#ifdef USE_SYSLOG
 /*
  * syslog_sg - log the change of group to syslog
  *
@@ -365,7 +364,6 @@ static void syslog_sg (const char *name, const char *group)
 	free(free_login);
 	free(free_tty);
 }
-#endif				/* USE_SYSLOG */
 
 /*
  * newgrp - change the invokers current real and effective group id
@@ -665,11 +663,9 @@ int main (int argc, char **argv)
 	 * all successful validations pass through this point. The group id
 	 * will be set, and the group added to the concurrent groupset.
 	 */
-#ifdef	USE_SYSLOG
 	if (getdef_bool ("SYSLOG_SG_ENAB")) {
 		syslog_sg (name, group);
 	}
-#endif				/* USE_SYSLOG */
 
 	gid = grp->gr_gid;
 
diff --git a/src/su.c b/src/su.c
index 6cd82fca..b2f0378b 100644
--- a/src/su.c
+++ b/src/su.c
@@ -188,7 +188,6 @@ static bool restricted_shell (const char *shellname)
 static /*@noreturn@*/void su_failure (const char *tty, bool su_to_root)
 {
 	sulog (tty, false, caller_name, name);	/* log failed attempt */
-#ifdef USE_SYSLOG
 	if (getdef_bool ("SYSLOG_SU_ENAB")) {
 		SYSLOG ((su_to_root ? LOG_NOTICE : LOG_INFO,
 		         "- %s %s:%s", tty,
@@ -196,7 +195,6 @@ static /*@noreturn@*/void su_failure (const char *tty, bool su_to_root)
 		         ('\0' != name[0]) ? name : "???"));
 	}
 	closelog ();
-#endif
 
 #ifdef WITH_AUDIT
 	audit_fd = audit_open ();
@@ -1050,13 +1048,11 @@ int main (int argc, char **argv)
 	}
 
 	sulog (caller_tty, true, caller_name, name);	/* save SU information */
-#ifdef USE_SYSLOG
 	if (getdef_bool ("SYSLOG_SU_ENAB")) {
 		SYSLOG ((LOG_INFO, "+ %s %s:%s", caller_tty,
 		         ('\0' != caller_name[0]) ? caller_name : "???",
 		         ('\0' != name[0]) ? name : "???"));
 	}
-#endif
 
 #ifdef USE_PAM
 	/* set primary group id and supplementary groups */