diff --git a/lib/rake/gempackagetask.rb b/lib/rake/gempackagetask.rb
index 4eb50589f..1e4632a26 100644
--- a/lib/rake/gempackagetask.rb
+++ b/lib/rake/gempackagetask.rb
@@ -9,12 +9,6 @@
 require 'rubygems/user_interaction'
 require 'rubygems/builder'
 
-begin
-  Gem.manage_gems if Gem::RubyGemsVersion < '1.2.0'
-rescue NoMethodError => ex
-  # Using rubygems prior to 0.6.1
-end
-
 module Rake
 
   # Create a package based upon a Gem spec.  Gem packages, as well as