diff --git a/ironic_inspector/conf/default.py b/ironic_inspector/conf/default.py
index 5c7c75a97..b840341be 100644
--- a/ironic_inspector/conf/default.py
+++ b/ironic_inspector/conf/default.py
@@ -33,13 +33,6 @@ _OPTS = [
                default=3600,
                help=_('Timeout after which introspection is considered '
                       'failed, set to 0 to disable.')),
-    cfg.IntOpt('node_status_keep_time',
-               default=0,
-               help=_('For how much time (in seconds) to keep status '
-                      'information about nodes after introspection was '
-                      'finished for them. Set to 0 (the default) '
-                      'to disable the timeout.'),
-               deprecated_for_removal=True),
     cfg.IntOpt('clean_up_period',
                default=60,
                help=_('Amount of time in seconds, after which repeat clean up '
diff --git a/ironic_inspector/node_cache.py b/ironic_inspector/node_cache.py
index 4dcc78b21..3e9ca3e83 100644
--- a/ironic_inspector/node_cache.py
+++ b/ironic_inspector/node_cache.py
@@ -874,19 +874,10 @@ def find_node(**attributes):
 def clean_up():
     """Clean up the cache.
 
-    * Finish introspection for timed out nodes.
-    * Drop outdated node status information.
+    Finish introspection for timed out nodes.
 
     :return: list of timed out node UUID's
     """
-    if CONF.node_status_keep_time > 0:
-        status_keep_threshold = (timeutils.utcnow() - datetime.timedelta(
-                                 seconds=CONF.node_status_keep_time))
-        with db.ensure_transaction() as session:
-            db.model_query(db.Node, session=session).filter(
-                db.Node.finished_at.isnot(None),
-                db.Node.finished_at < status_keep_threshold).delete()
-
     timeout = CONF.timeout
     if timeout <= 0:
         return []
diff --git a/ironic_inspector/test/unit/test_node_cache.py b/ironic_inspector/test/unit/test_node_cache.py
index 8bddf32c8..9ad9b6ff5 100644
--- a/ironic_inspector/test/unit/test_node_cache.py
+++ b/ironic_inspector/test/unit/test_node_cache.py
@@ -413,30 +413,6 @@ class TestNodeCacheCleanUp(test_base.NodeTest):
                 [(istate.States.error, current_time, 'Introspection timeout')],
                 res)
 
-    def test_old_status(self):
-        CONF.set_override('node_status_keep_time', 42)
-        session = db.get_writer_session()
-        with session.begin():
-            db.model_query(db.Node).update(
-                {'finished_at': (datetime.datetime.utcnow() -
-                                 datetime.timedelta(seconds=100))})
-
-        self.assertEqual([], node_cache.clean_up())
-
-        self.assertEqual([], db.model_query(db.Node).all())
-
-    def test_old_status_disabled(self):
-        # Status clean up is disabled by default
-        session = db.get_writer_session()
-        with session.begin():
-            db.model_query(db.Node).update(
-                {'finished_at': (datetime.datetime.utcnow() -
-                                 datetime.timedelta(days=10000))})
-
-        self.assertEqual([], node_cache.clean_up())
-
-        self.assertNotEqual([], db.model_query(db.Node).all())
-
 
 class TestNodeCacheGetNode(test_base.NodeTest):
     def test_ok(self):
diff --git a/releasenotes/notes/remove-opt-keep-node-status-7d6b96f1a6e498a8.yaml b/releasenotes/notes/remove-opt-keep-node-status-7d6b96f1a6e498a8.yaml
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..23ac19c77
--- /dev/null
+++ b/releasenotes/notes/remove-opt-keep-node-status-7d6b96f1a6e498a8.yaml
@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+---
+upgrade:
+  - |
+    The deprecated configuration option ``[DEFAULT]node_status_keep_time``
+    was removed.