diff --git a/shell-completion/hledger-completion.bash.m4 b/shell-completion/hledger-completion.bash.m4
index 7e2360384..580c5b7f2 100644
--- a/shell-completion/hledger-completion.bash.m4
+++ b/shell-completion/hledger-completion.bash.m4
@@ -37,13 +37,6 @@ hledgerCompletionFunction() {
     if [[ -z $subcommand ]]; then
 
 	declare completeFiles filenameSoFar
-	echo "$precedingWord, $wordToComplete"
-	case $wordToComplete in
-	    --file=*|--rules-file=*)
-		completeFiles=1
-		filenameSoFar=${wordToComplete#*=}
-		;;
-	esac
 	case $precedingWord in
 	    -f|--file|--rules-file)
 		completeFiles=1