diff --git a/esmvaltool/utils/recipe_test_workflow/recipe_test_workflow/app/configure/bin/configure.py b/esmvaltool/utils/recipe_test_workflow/recipe_test_workflow/app/configure/bin/configure.py
index 9ea990e6fd..fe75f3658b 100755
--- a/esmvaltool/utils/recipe_test_workflow/recipe_test_workflow/app/configure/bin/configure.py
+++ b/esmvaltool/utils/recipe_test_workflow/recipe_test_workflow/app/configure/bin/configure.py
@@ -4,9 +4,6 @@
 import pprint
 
 import yaml
-from esmvalcore.config._config_object import Config
-
-import esmvaltool
 
 
 def main():