diff --git a/lxd-migrate/lxd.go b/lxd-migrate/lxd.go
index 3cfe68edc..171e8879d 100644
--- a/lxd-migrate/lxd.go
+++ b/lxd-migrate/lxd.go
@@ -218,10 +218,6 @@ func (d *lxdDaemon) reload() error {
 		return systemdCtl("reload", "snap.lxd.daemon.service")
 	}
 
-	if osInit() == "upstart" {
-		return upstartCtl("restart", "lxd")
-	}
-
 	return systemdCtl("restart", "lxd.service", "lxd.socket")
 }
 
@@ -231,10 +227,6 @@ func (d *lxdDaemon) start() error {
 		return systemdCtl("start", "snap.lxd.daemon.service")
 	}
 
-	if osInit() == "upstart" {
-		return upstartCtl("start", "lxd")
-	}
-
 	return systemdCtl("start", "lxd.service", "lxd.socket")
 }
 
@@ -248,10 +240,6 @@ func (d *lxdDaemon) stop() error {
 		return systemdCtl("stop", "snap.lxd.daemon.service")
 	}
 
-	if osInit() == "upstart" {
-		return upstartCtl("stop", "lxd")
-	}
-
 	return systemdCtl("stop", "lxd.service", "lxd.socket")
 }
 
diff --git a/lxd-migrate/utils.go b/lxd-migrate/utils.go
index 95e9bafa6..4d703c680 100644
--- a/lxd-migrate/utils.go
+++ b/lxd-migrate/utils.go
@@ -72,16 +72,6 @@ func systemdCtl(action string, units ...string) error {
 	return err
 }
 
-func upstartCtl(action string, units ...string) error {
-	args := []string{}
-	args = append(args, action)
-	args = append(args, units...)
-
-	// Run initctl
-	_, err := shared.RunCommand("initctl", args...)
-	return err
-}
-
 func convertPath(path string, src string, dst string) string {
 	// Relative paths are handled by LXD
 	if !strings.HasPrefix(path, "/") {
@@ -134,10 +124,6 @@ func osInit() string {
 	fields := strings.Split(initExe, " ")
 	init := filepath.Base(fields[0])
 
-	if init == "init" {
-		init = "upstart"
-	}
-
 	return init
 }