diff --git a/hack/tools/go.sum b/hack/tools/.keep
similarity index 100%
rename from hack/tools/go.sum
rename to hack/tools/.keep
diff --git a/hack/tools/go.mod b/hack/tools/go.mod
deleted file mode 100644
index 20ca4ae452..0000000000
--- a/hack/tools/go.mod
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,5 +0,0 @@
-module sigs.k8s.io/controller-runtime/hack/tools
-
-go 1.21
-
-toolchain go1.21.5