diff --git a/configure.ac b/configure.ac
index 2ac59784..55c29d7d 100644
--- a/configure.ac
+++ b/configure.ac
@@ -110,10 +110,6 @@ AC_ARG_WITH(console,
         AS_HELP_STRING([--with-console=DEV], [Console to use, default: /dev/console]),
 	[console=$withval], [console=/dev/console])
 
-AC_ARG_WITH(username,
-        AS_HELP_STRING([--with-username=USER], [User for 'startx' .conf option, default: root]),
-	[username=$withval], [username=root])
-
 AC_ARG_WITH(hostname,
         AS_HELP_STRING([--with-hostname=NAME], [If /etc/hostname is missing, default: noname]),
 	[hostname=$withval], [hostname=noname])
@@ -190,11 +186,6 @@ AS_IF([test "x$with_console" != "xno"], [
 		console=/dev/console])])
 AC_DEFINE_UNQUOTED(CONSOLE, "$console", [Default console to use])
 
-AS_IF([test "x$with_username" != "xno"], [
-	AS_IF([test "x$username" = "xyes"], [
-		username=root])])
-AC_DEFINE_UNQUOTED(DEFUSER, "$username", [Used for startx .conf option])
-
 AS_IF([test "x$with_hostname" != "xno"], [
 	AS_IF([test "x$hostname" = "xyes"], [
 		hostname=noname])])
@@ -247,7 +238,6 @@ Optional features:
   Remount / RW at boot..: $enable_rw_rootfs
   Traditional progress..: $enable_progress
   Default console dev...: $console
-  Default user..........: $username
   Default hostname......: $hostname
   Default runlevel......: $runlevel
 
diff --git a/plugins/x11-common.c b/plugins/x11-common.c
index 6d009f3f..de67721a 100644
--- a/plugins/x11-common.c
+++ b/plugins/x11-common.c
@@ -36,6 +36,7 @@ static void setup(void *arg)
 	int fd;
 #endif
 	char line[LINE_SIZE];
+	const char *username = "nobody";
 
 	umask(0);
 
diff --git a/src/conf.c b/src/conf.c
index 37049c68..ceae6064 100644
--- a/src/conf.c
+++ b/src/conf.c
@@ -226,12 +226,6 @@ static void parse_static(char *line)
 	char *x;
 	char cmd[CMD_SIZE];
 
-	if (MATCH_CMD(line, "user ", x)) {
-		if (username) free(username);
-		username = strdup(strip_line(x));
-		return;
-	}
-
 	if (MATCH_CMD(line, "host ", x)) {
 		if (hostname) free(hostname);
 		hostname = strdup(strip_line(x));
@@ -283,11 +277,6 @@ static void parse_static(char *line)
 		return;
 	}
 
-	if (MATCH_CMD(line, "startx ", x)) {
-		service_register(SVC_TYPE_SERVICE, strip_line(x), NULL, username);
-		return;
-	}
-
 	if (MATCH_CMD(line, "shutdown ", x)) {
 		if (sdown) free(sdown);
 		sdown = strdup(strip_line(x));
@@ -529,7 +518,6 @@ void conf_reload_dynamic(void)
 
 int conf_parse_config(void)
 {
-	username = strdup(DEFUSER);
 	hostname = strdup(DEFHOST);
 
 	return parse_conf(FINIT_CONF);
diff --git a/src/finit.c b/src/finit.c
index a0a49cc4..63c018d8 100644
--- a/src/finit.c
+++ b/src/finit.c
@@ -54,7 +54,6 @@ int   cfglevel  = RUNLEVEL;	/* Fallback if no configured runlevel */
 int   prevlevel = -1;
 char *sdown     = NULL;
 char *network   = NULL;
-char *username  = NULL;
 char *hostname  = NULL;
 char *rcsd      = FINIT_RCSD;
 char *runparts  = NULL;
diff --git a/src/finit.h b/src/finit.h
index f8fe51a3..fcd93c3d 100644
--- a/src/finit.h
+++ b/src/finit.h
@@ -97,7 +97,6 @@ extern char  *rcsd;
 extern char  *sdown;
 extern char  *network;
 extern char  *hostname;
-extern char  *username;
 extern char  *runparts;
 extern char  *console;
 extern uev_ctx_t *ctx;