diff --git a/Makefile.am b/Makefile.am
index 18a5f4a82a..bad6a2d18a 100644
--- a/Makefile.am
+++ b/Makefile.am
@@ -493,7 +493,6 @@ dist_systemunit_DATA = \
 	units/swap.target \
 	units/slices.target \
 	units/system.slice \
-	units/x-.slice \
 	units/systemd-initctl.socket \
 	units/syslog.socket \
 	units/dev-hugepages.mount \
@@ -637,17 +636,6 @@ GENERAL_ALIASES += \
 	$(systemunitdir)/reboot.target $(pkgsysconfdir)/system/ctrl-alt-del.target \
 	$(systemunitdir)/machines.target $(pkgsysconfdir)/system/multi-user.target.wants/machines.target
 
-# automake is broken and can't handle files with a dash in front
-# http://debbugs.gnu.org/cgi/bugreport.cgi?bug=14728#8
-units-install-hook:
-	mv $(DESTDIR)$(systemunitdir)/x-.slice $(DESTDIR)/$(systemunitdir)/-.slice
-
-units-uninstall-hook:
-	rm -f $(DESTDIR)/$(systemunitdir)/-.slice
-
-INSTALL_DATA_HOOKS += units-install-hook
-UNINSTALL_DATA_HOOKS += units-uninstall-hook
-
 dist_doc_DATA = \
 	README \
 	NEWS \
diff --git a/units/x-.slice b/units/x-.slice
deleted file mode 100644
index ac82c35874..0000000000
--- a/units/x-.slice
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,12 +0,0 @@
-#  This file is part of systemd.
-#
-#  systemd is free software; you can redistribute it and/or modify it
-#  under the terms of the GNU Lesser General Public License as published by
-#  the Free Software Foundation; either version 2.1 of the License, or
-#  (at your option) any later version.
-
-[Unit]
-Description=Root Slice
-Documentation=man:systemd.special(7)
-DefaultDependencies=no
-Before=slices.target