diff --git a/lisp/ses.el b/lisp/ses.el
index 0b38af41a8b..ab9f0715fd8 100644
--- a/lisp/ses.el
+++ b/lisp/ses.el
@@ -562,10 +562,6 @@ definition."
    ((functionp printer) printer)
    ((stringp printer)
     `(lambda (x) (format ,printer x)))
-   ((stringp (car-safe printer))
-    `(lambda (x)
-       (setq ses-call-printer-return t)
-       (format ,(car printer) x)))
    (t (error "Invalid printer %S" printer))))
 
 (defun ses--local-printer (name def)