diff --git a/builder/builder.go b/builder/builder.go
index 76c6648463..ab3d2a9f25 100644
--- a/builder/builder.go
+++ b/builder/builder.go
@@ -62,8 +62,6 @@ type ExecBackend interface {
 	ContainerCreateIgnoreImagesArgsEscaped(ctx context.Context, config backend.ContainerCreateConfig) (container.CreateResponse, error)
 	// ContainerRm removes a container specified by `id`.
 	ContainerRm(name string, config *backend.ContainerRmConfig) error
-	// ContainerKill stops the container execution abruptly.
-	ContainerKill(containerID string, sig string) error
 	// ContainerStart starts a new container
 	ContainerStart(ctx context.Context, containerID string, hostConfig *container.HostConfig, checkpoint string, checkpointDir string) error
 	// ContainerWait stops processing until the given container is stopped.
diff --git a/builder/dockerfile/containerbackend.go b/builder/dockerfile/containerbackend.go
index 6eb8f9b1d4..8986c1277a 100644
--- a/builder/dockerfile/containerbackend.go
+++ b/builder/dockerfile/containerbackend.go
@@ -61,8 +61,7 @@ func (c *containerManager) Run(ctx context.Context, cID string, stdout, stderr i
 	go func() {
 		select {
 		case <-ctx.Done():
-			log.G(ctx).Debugln("Build cancelled, killing and removing container:", cID)
-			c.backend.ContainerKill(cID, "")
+			log.G(ctx).Debugln("Build cancelled, removing container:", cID)
 			err = c.backend.ContainerRm(cID, &backend.ContainerRmConfig{ForceRemove: true, RemoveVolume: true})
 			if err != nil {
 				_, _ = fmt.Fprintf(stdout, "Removing container %s: %v\n", stringid.TruncateID(cID), err)
diff --git a/builder/dockerfile/mockbackend_test.go b/builder/dockerfile/mockbackend_test.go
index 1278ffcf91..41c2e045e0 100644
--- a/builder/dockerfile/mockbackend_test.go
+++ b/builder/dockerfile/mockbackend_test.go
@@ -45,10 +45,6 @@ func (m *MockBackend) CommitBuildStep(ctx context.Context, c backend.CommitConfi
 	return "", nil
 }
 
-func (m *MockBackend) ContainerKill(containerID string, sig string) error {
-	return nil
-}
-
 func (m *MockBackend) ContainerStart(ctx context.Context, containerID string, hostConfig *container.HostConfig, checkpoint string, checkpointDir string) error {
 	return nil
 }