diff --git a/server/src/main/java/org/opensearch/search/internal/SearchContext.java b/server/src/main/java/org/opensearch/search/internal/SearchContext.java
index 07f3616bbc138..0c8240d3a8322 100644
--- a/server/src/main/java/org/opensearch/search/internal/SearchContext.java
+++ b/server/src/main/java/org/opensearch/search/internal/SearchContext.java
@@ -194,10 +194,6 @@ public final void close() {
 
     public abstract void highlight(SearchHighlightContext highlight);
 
-    public boolean hasInnerHits() {
-        return innerHitsContext != null;
-    }
-
     public InnerHitsContext innerHits() {
         if (innerHitsContext == null) {
             innerHitsContext = new InnerHitsContext();