diff --git a/gms/gossiper.cc b/gms/gossiper.cc
index a172a1d321..89cd011a39 100644
--- a/gms/gossiper.cc
+++ b/gms/gossiper.cc
@@ -1824,9 +1824,6 @@ future<> gossiper::start_gossiping(int generation_nbr, std::map<application_stat
 
     co_await replicate(get_broadcast_address(), local_state);
 
-    //notify snitches that Gossiper is about to start
-    co_await locator::i_endpoint_snitch::get_local_snitch_ptr()->gossiper_starting();
-
     logger.trace("gossip started with generation {}", generation);
     _enabled = true;
     _nr_run = 0;
diff --git a/locator/ec2_multi_region_snitch.cc b/locator/ec2_multi_region_snitch.cc
index e33bb1d675..b314132691 100644
--- a/locator/ec2_multi_region_snitch.cc
+++ b/locator/ec2_multi_region_snitch.cc
@@ -97,16 +97,6 @@ void ec2_multi_region_snitch::set_local_private_addr(const sstring& addr_str) {
     _local_private_address = addr_str;
 }
 
-future<> ec2_multi_region_snitch::gossiper_starting() {
-    //
-    // Note: currently gossiper "main" instance always runs on CPU0 therefore
-    // this function will be executed on CPU0 only.
-    //
-
-    _gossip_started = true;
-    return make_ready_future<>();
-}
-
 std::list<std::pair<gms::application_state, gms::versioned_value>> ec2_multi_region_snitch::get_app_states() const {
     return {
         {gms::application_state::DC, gms::versioned_value::datacenter(_my_dc)},
diff --git a/locator/ec2_multi_region_snitch.hh b/locator/ec2_multi_region_snitch.hh
index 70235b70f3..a8e0a4ce28 100644
--- a/locator/ec2_multi_region_snitch.hh
+++ b/locator/ec2_multi_region_snitch.hh
@@ -16,7 +16,6 @@ namespace locator {
 class ec2_multi_region_snitch : public ec2_snitch {
 public:
     ec2_multi_region_snitch(const sstring& fname = "", unsigned io_cpu_id = 0);
-    virtual future<> gossiper_starting() override;
     virtual std::list<std::pair<gms::application_state, gms::versioned_value>> get_app_states() const override;
     virtual future<> start() override;
     virtual void set_local_private_addr(const sstring& addr_str) override;
diff --git a/locator/gossiping_property_file_snitch.cc b/locator/gossiping_property_file_snitch.cc
index b56a9c87c5..f12de13c5a 100644
--- a/locator/gossiping_property_file_snitch.cc
+++ b/locator/gossiping_property_file_snitch.cc
@@ -102,15 +102,6 @@ void gossiping_property_file_snitch::periodic_reader_callback() {
     });
 }
 
-future<> gossiping_property_file_snitch::gossiper_starting() {
-    //
-    // Note: currently gossiper "main" instance always runs on CPU0 therefore
-    // this function will be executed on CPU0 only.
-    //
-        _gossip_started = true;
-        return make_ready_future<>();
-}
-
 std::list<std::pair<gms::application_state, gms::versioned_value>> gossiping_property_file_snitch::get_app_states() const {
     sstring ip = format("{}", gms::get_local_gossiper().get_local_messaging().listen_address());
     return {
diff --git a/locator/gossiping_property_file_snitch.hh b/locator/gossiping_property_file_snitch.hh
index 5c5dccaea7..33c49a297a 100644
--- a/locator/gossiping_property_file_snitch.hh
+++ b/locator/gossiping_property_file_snitch.hh
@@ -36,7 +36,6 @@ public:
         return std::chrono::seconds(60);
     }
 
-    virtual future<> gossiper_starting() override;
     virtual std::list<std::pair<gms::application_state, gms::versioned_value>> get_app_states() const override;
     virtual future<> stop() override;
     virtual future<> start() override;
diff --git a/locator/snitch_base.hh b/locator/snitch_base.hh
index dcfd3ef724..7161fba839 100644
--- a/locator/snitch_base.hh
+++ b/locator/snitch_base.hh
@@ -87,15 +87,6 @@ public:
     virtual int compare_endpoints(
         inet_address& target, inet_address& a1, inet_address& a2) = 0;
 
-    /**
-     * called after Gossiper instance exists immediately before it starts
-     * gossiping
-     */
-    virtual future<> gossiper_starting() {
-        _gossip_started = true;
-        return make_ready_future<>();
-    }
-
     /**
      * returns whatever info snitch wants to gossip
      */
@@ -168,10 +159,6 @@ public:
         //noop by default
     }
 
-    bool local_gossiper_started() {
-        return _gossip_started;
-    }
-
     virtual future<> reload_gossiper_state() {
         // noop by default
         return make_ready_future<>();
@@ -202,7 +189,6 @@ protected:
         stopping,
         stopped
     } _state = snitch_state::initializing;
-    bool _gossip_started = false;
 };
 
 struct snitch_ptr {