diff --git a/bookwyrm/templatetags/bookwyrm_tags.py b/bookwyrm/templatetags/bookwyrm_tags.py
index caab30a86..fa2998e6f 100644
--- a/bookwyrm/templatetags/bookwyrm_tags.py
+++ b/bookwyrm/templatetags/bookwyrm_tags.py
@@ -43,12 +43,6 @@ def get_user_identifier(user):
     return user.localname if user.localname else user.username
 
 
-@register.filter(name="notification_count")
-def get_notification_count(user):
-    """how many UNREAD notifications are there"""
-    return user.notification_set.filter(read=False).count()
-
-
 @register.filter(name="replies")
 def get_replies(status):
     """get all direct replies to a status"""
diff --git a/bookwyrm/tests/test_templatetags.py b/bookwyrm/tests/test_templatetags.py
index 1c05e9928..df4df6713 100644
--- a/bookwyrm/tests/test_templatetags.py
+++ b/bookwyrm/tests/test_templatetags.py
@@ -53,19 +53,6 @@ class TemplateTags(TestCase):
             bookwyrm_tags.get_user_identifier(self.remote_user), "rat@example.com"
         )
 
-    def test_get_notification_count(self, _):
-        """just countin'"""
-        self.assertEqual(bookwyrm_tags.get_notification_count(self.user), 0)
-
-        models.Notification.objects.create(user=self.user, notification_type="FAVORITE")
-        models.Notification.objects.create(user=self.user, notification_type="MENTION")
-
-        models.Notification.objects.create(
-            user=self.remote_user, notification_type="FOLLOW"
-        )
-
-        self.assertEqual(bookwyrm_tags.get_notification_count(self.user), 2)
-
     def test_get_replies(self, _):
         """direct replies to a status"""
         with patch("bookwyrm.models.activitypub_mixin.broadcast_task.delay"):