diff --git a/.gitignore b/.gitignore
index 3303eed411..3223cf1b76 100644
--- a/.gitignore
+++ b/.gitignore
@@ -11,7 +11,6 @@
 *.gcov
 *.html
 *.i
-*.init
 *.la
 *.lo
 *.loT
diff --git a/m4/virt-init-script.m4 b/m4/virt-init-script.m4
index 7094e29f46..8045fc06bb 100644
--- a/m4/virt-init-script.m4
+++ b/m4/virt-init-script.m4
@@ -19,14 +19,13 @@ dnl
 
 AC_DEFUN([LIBVIRT_ARG_INIT_SCRIPT],[
     LIBVIRT_ARG_WITH([INIT_SCRIPT],
-                     [Style of init script to install: redhat, systemd,
-                      systemd+redhat, check, none], [check])
+                     [Style of init script to install: systemd, check, none],
+                     [check])
 ])
 
 AC_DEFUN([LIBVIRT_CHECK_INIT_SCRIPT],[
     AC_MSG_CHECKING([for init script type])
 
-    init_redhat=no
     init_systemd=no
 
     if test "$with_init_script" = check && test "$cross_compiling" = yes; then
@@ -35,31 +34,20 @@ AC_DEFUN([LIBVIRT_CHECK_INIT_SCRIPT],[
     if test "$with_init_script" = check && type systemctl >/dev/null 2>&1; then
         with_init_script=systemd
     fi
-    if test "$with_init_script" = check && test -f /etc/redhat-release; then
-        with_init_script=redhat
-    fi
     if test "$with_init_script" = check; then
         with_init_script=none
     fi
 
     AS_CASE([$with_init_script],
-        [systemd+redhat],[
-            init_redhat=yes
-            init_systemd=yes
-        ],
         [systemd],[
             init_systemd=yes
         ],
-        [redhat],[
-            init_redhat=yes
-        ],
         [none],[],
         [*],[
             AC_MSG_ERROR([Unknown initscript flavour $with_init_script])
         ]
     )
 
-    AM_CONDITIONAL([LIBVIRT_INIT_SCRIPT_RED_HAT], test "$init_redhat" = "yes")
     AM_CONDITIONAL([LIBVIRT_INIT_SCRIPT_SYSTEMD], test "$init_systemd" = "yes")
 
     AC_MSG_RESULT($with_init_script)
diff --git a/src/Makefile.am b/src/Makefile.am
index 94a9a7c27d..a73f43c483 100644
--- a/src/Makefile.am
+++ b/src/Makefile.am
@@ -84,7 +84,6 @@ LOGROTATE_FILES_IN =
 PODFILES =
 MANINFILES =
 SYSTEMD_UNIT_FILES_IN =
-SYSVINIT_FILES_IN =
 SYSCONF_FILES =
 sbin_PROGRAMS =
 man8_MANS =
@@ -765,14 +764,6 @@ uninstall-sysconfig:
 	done
 	rmdir $(DESTDIR)$(sysconfdir)/sysconfig || :
 
-SYSVINIT_FILES_IN += \
-	locking/virtlockd.init.in \
-	$(NULL)
-
-SYSVINIT_FILES = $(notdir $(SYSVINIT_FILES_IN:%.in=%))
-
-EXTRA_DIST += $(SYSVINIT_FILES_IN)
-
 LOGROTATE_FILES := $(LOGROTATE_FILES_IN:remote/%.in=%)
 
 EXTRA_DIST += $(LOGROTATE_FILES_IN)
@@ -804,29 +795,6 @@ INSTALL_DATA_LOCAL += install-logrotate
 UNINSTALL_LOCAL += uninstall-logrotate
 endif WITH_LIBVIRTD
 
-if WITH_LIBVIRTD
-if LIBVIRT_INIT_SCRIPT_RED_HAT
-initdir = $(sysconfdir)/rc.d/init.d
-
-install-init: $(SYSVINIT_FILES) install-sysconfig
-	$(MKDIR_P) $(DESTDIR)$(initdir)
-	for f in $(SYSVINIT_FILES:%.init=%) ; \
-	do \
-	  $(INSTALL_SCRIPT) $$f.init $(DESTDIR)$(initdir)/$$f; \
-	done
-
-uninstall-init: uninstall-sysconfig
-	rm -f $(SYSVINIT_FILES:%.init=$(DESTDIR)$(initdir)/%)
-	rmdir $(DESTDIR)$(initdir) || :
-
-BUILT_SOURCES += $(SYSVINIT_FILES)
-DISTCLEANFILES += $(SYSVINIT_FILES)
-
-INSTALL_DATA_LOCAL += install-init
-UNINSTALL_LOCAL += uninstall-init
-endif LIBVIRT_INIT_SCRIPT_RED_HAT
-endif WITH_LIBVIRTD
-
 
 %.8: %.8.in $(top_srcdir)/configure.ac
 	$(AM_V_GEN)sed \
diff --git a/src/locking/Makefile.inc.am b/src/locking/Makefile.inc.am
index f2eb2efb7b..6de7f7bab8 100644
--- a/src/locking/Makefile.inc.am
+++ b/src/locking/Makefile.inc.am
@@ -305,15 +305,6 @@ virtlockd-admin.socket: locking/virtlockd-admin.socket.in \
 	    < $< > $@-t && \
 	    mv $@-t $@
 
-virtlockd.init: locking/virtlockd.init.in $(top_builddir)/config.status
-	$(AM_V_GEN)sed \
-	    -e 's|[@]localstatedir[@]|$(localstatedir)|g' \
-	    -e 's|[@]sbindir[@]|$(sbindir)|g' \
-	    -e 's|[@]sysconfdir[@]|$(sysconfdir)|g' \
-	    < $< > $@-t && \
-	    chmod a+x $@-t && \
-	    mv $@-t $@
-
 virtlockd.8.in: locking/virtlockd.pod
 	$(AM_V_GEN)$(POD2MAN) --section=8 $< $@-t1 && \
 	if grep 'POD ERROR' $@-t1; then rm $@-t1; exit 1; fi && \
diff --git a/src/locking/virtlockd.init.in b/src/locking/virtlockd.init.in
deleted file mode 100644
index 0bf868ca7f..0000000000
--- a/src/locking/virtlockd.init.in
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,98 +0,0 @@
-#!/bin/sh
-
-# the following is the LSB init header see
-# http://refspecs.linuxfoundation.org/LSB_5.0.0/LSB-Core-generic/LSB-Core-generic/initscrcomconv.html
-#
-### BEGIN INIT INFO
-# Provides: virtlockd
-# Default-Start: 3 4 5
-# Default-Stop: 0 1 2 6
-# Required-Start:
-# Required-Stop:
-# Should-Start: $network $remote_fs
-# Should-Stop: $network $remote_fs
-# Short-Description: virtual machine lock manager
-# Description: This is a daemon for managing locks
-#              on virtual machine disk images
-### END INIT INFO
-
-# the following is chkconfig init header
-#
-# virtlockd:   virtual machine lock manager
-#
-# chkconfig: 345 96 04
-# description:  This is a daemon for managing locks \
-#               on virtual machine disk images
-#
-# processname: virtlockd
-# pidfile: @localstatedir@/run/virtlockd.pid
-#
-
-# Source function library.
-. @sysconfdir@/rc.d/init.d/functions
-
-SERVICE=virtlockd
-PROCESS=virtlockd
-PIDFILE=@localstatedir@/run/$SERVICE.pid
-
-VIRTLOCKD_ARGS=
-
-test -f @sysconfdir@/sysconfig/virtlockd && . @sysconfdir@/sysconfig/virtlockd
-
-RETVAL=0
-
-start() {
-    echo -n $"Starting $SERVICE daemon: "
-    daemon --pidfile $PIDFILE --check $SERVICE $PROCESS --daemon $VIRTLOCKD_ARGS
-    RETVAL=$?
-    echo
-    [ $RETVAL -eq 0 ] && touch @localstatedir@/lock/subsys/$SERVICE
-}
-
-stop() {
-    echo -n $"Stopping $SERVICE daemon: "
-
-    killproc -p $PIDFILE $PROCESS
-    RETVAL=$?
-    echo
-    if [ $RETVAL -eq 0 ]; then
-        rm -f @localstatedir@/lock/subsys/$SERVICE
-        rm -f $PIDFILE
-    fi
-}
-
-restart() {
-    stop
-    start
-}
-
-reload() {
-    echo -n $"Reloading $SERVICE configuration: "
-
-    killproc -p $PIDFILE $PROCESS -USR1
-    RETVAL=$?
-    echo
-    return $RETVAL
-}
-
-# See how we were called.
-case "$1" in
-    start|stop|restart|reload)
-        $1
-        ;;
-    status)
-        status -p $PIDFILE $PROCESS
-        RETVAL=$?
-        ;;
-    force-reload)
-        reload
-        ;;
-    condrestart|try-restart)
-        [ -f @localstatedir@/lock/subsys/$SERVICE ] && restart || :
-        ;;
-    *)
-        echo $"Usage: $0 {start|stop|status|restart|condrestart|reload|force-reload|try-restart}"
-        exit 2
-        ;;
-esac
-exit $RETVAL
diff --git a/src/logging/Makefile.inc.am b/src/logging/Makefile.inc.am
index ae022ade0b..a4739b2d44 100644
--- a/src/logging/Makefile.inc.am
+++ b/src/logging/Makefile.inc.am
@@ -26,8 +26,6 @@ LOG_DAEMON_SOURCES = \
 
 LOG_PROTOCOL = $(srcdir)/logging/log_protocol.x
 
-SYSVINIT_FILES_IN += logging/virtlogd.init.in
-
 EXTRA_DIST += \
 	$(LOG_PROTOCOL) \
 	$(LOG_PROTOCOL_GENERATED) \
@@ -116,15 +114,6 @@ logging/log_daemon_dispatch_stubs.h: $(LOG_PROTOCOL) \
 	    virLogManagerProtocol VIR_LOG_MANAGER_PROTOCOL \
 	    $(LOG_PROTOCOL) > $(srcdir)/logging/log_daemon_dispatch_stubs.h
 
-virtlogd.init: logging/virtlogd.init.in $(top_builddir)/config.status
-	$(AM_V_GEN)sed \
-	    -e 's|[@]localstatedir[@]|$(localstatedir)|g' \
-	    -e 's|[@]sbindir[@]|$(sbindir)|g' \
-	    -e 's|[@]sysconfdir[@]|$(sysconfdir)|g' \
-	    < $< > $@-t && \
-	    chmod a+x $@-t && \
-	    mv $@-t $@
-
 virtlogd.8.in: logging/virtlogd.pod
 	$(AM_V_GEN)$(POD2MAN) --section=8 $< $@-t1 && \
 	if grep 'POD ERROR' $@-t1; then rm $@-t1; exit 1; fi && \
diff --git a/src/logging/virtlogd.init.in b/src/logging/virtlogd.init.in
deleted file mode 100644
index 6aa8815046..0000000000
--- a/src/logging/virtlogd.init.in
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,98 +0,0 @@
-#!/bin/sh
-
-# the following is the LSB init header see
-# http://refspecs.linuxfoundation.org/LSB_5.0.0/LSB-Core-generic/LSB-Core-generic/initscrcomconv.html
-#
-### BEGIN INIT INFO
-# Provides: virtlogd
-# Default-Start: 3 4 5
-# Default-Stop: 0 1 2 6
-# Required-Start:
-# Required-Stop:
-# Should-Start: $network $remote_fs
-# Should-Stop: $network $remote_fs
-# Short-Description: virtual machine log manager
-# Description: This is a daemon for managing logs
-#              of virtual machine consoles
-### END INIT INFO
-
-# the following is chkconfig init header
-#
-# virtlogd:   virtual machine log manager
-#
-# chkconfig: 345 96 04
-# description:  This is a daemon for managing logs \
-#               of virtual machine consoles
-#
-# processname: virtlogd
-# pidfile: @localstatedir@/run/virtlogd.pid
-#
-
-# Source function library.
-. @sysconfdir@/rc.d/init.d/functions
-
-SERVICE=virtlogd
-PROCESS=virtlogd
-PIDFILE=@localstatedir@/run/$SERVICE.pid
-
-VIRTLOGD_ARGS=
-
-test -f @sysconfdir@/sysconfig/virtlogd && . @sysconfdir@/sysconfig/virtlogd
-
-RETVAL=0
-
-start() {
-    echo -n $"Starting $SERVICE daemon: "
-    daemon --pidfile $PIDFILE --check $SERVICE $PROCESS --daemon $VIRTLOGD_ARGS
-    RETVAL=$?
-    echo
-    [ $RETVAL -eq 0 ] && touch @localstatedir@/lock/subsys/$SERVICE
-}
-
-stop() {
-    echo -n $"Stopping $SERVICE daemon: "
-
-    killproc -p $PIDFILE $PROCESS
-    RETVAL=$?
-    echo
-    if [ $RETVAL -eq 0 ]; then
-        rm -f @localstatedir@/lock/subsys/$SERVICE
-        rm -f $PIDFILE
-    fi
-}
-
-restart() {
-    stop
-    start
-}
-
-reload() {
-    echo -n $"Reloading $SERVICE configuration: "
-
-    killproc -p $PIDFILE $PROCESS -USR1
-    RETVAL=$?
-    echo
-    return $RETVAL
-}
-
-# See how we were called.
-case "$1" in
-    start|stop|restart|reload)
-        $1
-        ;;
-    status)
-        status -p $PIDFILE $PROCESS
-        RETVAL=$?
-        ;;
-    force-reload)
-        reload
-        ;;
-    condrestart|try-restart)
-        [ -f @localstatedir@/lock/subsys/$SERVICE ] && restart || :
-        ;;
-    *)
-        echo $"Usage: $0 {start|stop|status|restart|condrestart|reload|force-reload|try-restart}"
-        exit 2
-        ;;
-esac
-exit $RETVAL
diff --git a/src/remote/Makefile.inc.am b/src/remote/Makefile.inc.am
index bc1d7f462f..dccecf8cd3 100644
--- a/src/remote/Makefile.inc.am
+++ b/src/remote/Makefile.inc.am
@@ -42,8 +42,6 @@ LOGROTATE_FILES_IN += \
 	remote/libvirtd.logrotate.in \
 	$(NULL)
 
-SYSVINIT_FILES_IN += remote/libvirtd.init.in
-
 SYSCONF_FILES += remote/libvirtd.sysconf
 
 PODFILES += remote/libvirtd.pod
diff --git a/src/remote/libvirtd.init.in b/src/remote/libvirtd.init.in
deleted file mode 100644
index d81dca6f2e..0000000000
--- a/src/remote/libvirtd.init.in
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,122 +0,0 @@
-#!/bin/sh
-
-# the following is the LSB init header see
-# http://refspecs.linuxfoundation.org/LSB_5.0.0/LSB-Core-generic/LSB-Core-generic/initscrcomconv.html
-#
-### BEGIN INIT INFO
-# Provides: libvirtd
-# Default-Start: 3 4 5
-# Default-Stop: 0 1 2 6
-# Required-Start: $network messagebus virtlogd
-# Required-Stop: $network messagebus
-# Should-Start: $named xend avahi-daemon virtlockd
-# Should-Stop: $named
-# Short-Description: daemon for libvirt virtualization API
-# Description: This is a daemon for managing guest instances
-#              and libvirt virtual networks
-#              See https://libvirt.org
-### END INIT INFO
-
-# the following is chkconfig init header
-#
-# libvirtd:   guest and virtual network management daemon
-#
-# chkconfig: 345 97 03
-# description:  This is a daemon for managing guest instances \
-#               and libvirt virtual networks \
-#               See https://libvirt.org
-#
-# processname: libvirtd
-# pidfile: @localstatedir@/run/libvirtd.pid
-#
-
-# Source function library.
-. @sysconfdir@/rc.d/init.d/functions
-
-SERVICE=libvirtd
-PROCESS=libvirtd
-PIDFILE=@localstatedir@/run/$SERVICE.pid
-
-LIBVIRTD_CONFIG=
-LIBVIRTD_ARGS=
-KRB5_KTNAME=/etc/libvirt/krb5.tab
-
-test -f @sysconfdir@/sysconfig/libvirtd && . @sysconfdir@/sysconfig/libvirtd
-
-export QEMU_AUDIO_DRV
-export SDL_AUDIODRIVER
-
-LIBVIRTD_CONFIG_ARGS=
-if [ -n "$LIBVIRTD_CONFIG" ]
-then
-    LIBVIRTD_CONFIG_ARGS="--config $LIBVIRTD_CONFIG"
-fi
-
-RETVAL=0
-
-start() {
-    echo -n $"Starting $SERVICE daemon: "
-    mkdir -p @localstatedir@/cache/libvirt
-    rm -rf @localstatedir@/cache/libvirt/*
-
-    # LIBVIRTD_NOFILES_LIMIT from /etc/sysconfig/libvirtd is not handled
-    # automatically
-    if [ -n "$LIBVIRTD_NOFILES_LIMIT" ]; then
-        ulimit -n "$LIBVIRTD_NOFILES_LIMIT"
-    fi
-
-    KRB5_KTNAME=$KRB5_KTNAME daemon --pidfile $PIDFILE --check $SERVICE $PROCESS --daemon $LIBVIRTD_CONFIG_ARGS $LIBVIRTD_ARGS
-    RETVAL=$?
-    echo
-    [ $RETVAL -eq 0 ] && touch @localstatedir@/lock/subsys/$SERVICE
-}
-
-stop() {
-    echo -n $"Stopping $SERVICE daemon: "
-
-    killproc -p $PIDFILE $PROCESS
-    RETVAL=$?
-    echo
-    if [ $RETVAL -eq 0 ]; then
-        rm -f @localstatedir@/lock/subsys/$SERVICE
-        rm -rf @localstatedir@/cache/libvirt/*
-    else
-        exit $RETVAL
-    fi
-}
-
-restart() {
-    stop
-    start
-}
-
-reload() {
-    echo -n $"Reloading $SERVICE configuration: "
-
-    killproc -p $PIDFILE $PROCESS -HUP
-    RETVAL=$?
-    echo
-    return $RETVAL
-}
-
-# See how we were called.
-case "$1" in
-    start|stop|restart|reload)
-        $1
-        ;;
-    status)
-        status -p $PIDFILE $PROCESS
-        RETVAL=$?
-        ;;
-    force-reload)
-        reload
-        ;;
-    condrestart|try-restart)
-        [ -f @localstatedir@/lock/subsys/$SERVICE ] && restart || :
-        ;;
-    *)
-        echo $"Usage: $0 {start|stop|status|restart|condrestart|reload|force-reload|try-restart}"
-        exit 2
-        ;;
-esac
-exit $RETVAL
diff --git a/tools/Makefile.am b/tools/Makefile.am
index 95025ced43..c6064dee08 100644
--- a/tools/Makefile.am
+++ b/tools/Makefile.am
@@ -327,10 +327,10 @@ POD2MAN = pod2man -c "Virtualization Support" -r "$(PACKAGE)-$(VERSION)"
 		< $< > $@-t && \
 	mv $@-t $@
 
-install-data-local: install-init install-systemd install-nss \
+install-data-local: install-systemd install-nss \
 	install-bash-completion
 
-uninstall-local: uninstall-init uninstall-systemd uninstall-nss \
+uninstall-local: uninstall-systemd uninstall-nss \
 	uninstall-bash-completion
 
 install-sysconfig:
@@ -342,26 +342,7 @@ uninstall-sysconfig:
 	rm -f $(DESTDIR)$(sysconfdir)/sysconfig/libvirt-guests
 	rmdir $(DESTDIR)$(sysconfdir)/sysconfig ||:
 
-EXTRA_DIST += libvirt-guests.sh.in libvirt-guests.init.in
-
-install-initscript: libvirt-guests.init
-	$(MKDIR_P) $(DESTDIR)$(sysconfdir)/rc.d/init.d
-	$(INSTALL_SCRIPT) libvirt-guests.init \
-	  $(DESTDIR)$(sysconfdir)/rc.d/init.d/libvirt-guests
-
-uninstall-initscript:
-	rm -f $(DESTDIR)$(sysconfdir)/rc.d/init.d/libvirt-guests
-	rmdir $(DESTDIR)$(sysconfdir)/rc.d/init.d ||:
-
-
-if LIBVIRT_INIT_SCRIPT_RED_HAT
-BUILT_SOURCES += libvirt-guests.init
-install-init: install-sysconfig install-initscript
-uninstall-init: uninstall-sysconfig uninstall-initscript
-else ! LIBVIRT_INIT_SCRIPT_RED_HAT
-install-init:
-uninstall-init:
-endif ! LIBVIRT_INIT_SCRIPT_RED_HAT
+EXTRA_DIST += libvirt-guests.sh.in
 
 libvirt-guests.sh: libvirt-guests.sh.in $(top_builddir)/config.status
 	$(AM_V_GEN)sed \
@@ -376,14 +357,6 @@ libvirt-guests.sh: libvirt-guests.sh.in $(top_builddir)/config.status
 	    mv $@-t $@
 BUILT_SOURCES += libvirt-guests.sh
 
-libvirt-guests.init: libvirt-guests.init.in libvirt-guests.sh
-	$(AM_V_GEN)sed \
-		-e 's|[@]libexecdir[@]|$(libexecdir)|g' \
-	< $< > $@-t && \
-	chmod a+x $@-t && \
-	mv $@-t $@
-
-
 EXTRA_DIST += libvirt-guests.service.in
 SYSTEMD_UNIT_DIR = $(prefix)/lib/systemd/system
 
diff --git a/tools/libvirt-guests.init.in b/tools/libvirt-guests.init.in
deleted file mode 100644
index 495d4c7d1d..0000000000
--- a/tools/libvirt-guests.init.in
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,30 +0,0 @@
-#!/bin/sh
-
-# the following is the LSB init header see
-# http://refspecs.linuxfoundation.org/LSB_5.0.0/LSB-Core-generic/LSB-Core-generic/initscrcomconv.html
-#
-### BEGIN INIT INFO
-# Provides: libvirt-guests
-# Default-Start: 3 4 5
-# Default-Stop: 0 1 2 6
-# Required-Start: libvirtd
-# Required-Stop: libvirtd
-# Should-Start:
-# Should-Stop:
-# Short-Description: suspend/resume libvirt guests on shutdown/boot
-# Description: This is a script for suspending active libvirt guests
-#              on shutdown and resuming them on next boot
-#              See https://libvirt.org
-### END INIT INFO
-
-# the following is chkconfig init header
-#
-# libvirt-guests:   suspend/resume libvirt guests on shutdown/boot
-#
-# chkconfig: 345 99 01
-# description:  This is a script for suspending active libvirt guests \
-#               on shutdown and resuming them on next boot \
-#               See https://libvirt.org
-#
-
-exec @libexecdir@/libvirt-guests.sh "$@"