diff --git a/init.lua b/init.lua
index 0194b14..ab9c5a3 100644
--- a/init.lua
+++ b/init.lua
@@ -66,11 +66,6 @@ dofile(MP.."/death.lua")
 dofile(MP.."/travel/travel.lua")
 dofile(MP.."/teleport_back.lua")
 
-if minetest.get_modpath("protector") then
-	-- protector customizations
-	dofile(MP.."/protector_forceload.lua")
-end
-
 if minetest.get_modpath("farming") and farming.mod == "redo" then
 	-- farming customizations
 	dofile(MP.."/farming.lua")
diff --git a/protector_forceload.lua b/protector_forceload.lua
deleted file mode 100644
index 067c55d..0000000
--- a/protector_forceload.lua
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,53 +0,0 @@
-
--- Related issue:
--- https://github.com/pandorabox-io/pandorabox.io/issues/503
-
--- loads a position from cache to ensure that the mapblock there is loaded
-local function load_from_cache(pos)
-  minetest.get_voxel_manip(pos, pos)
-end
-
-local old_can_dig = protector.can_dig
-protector.can_dig = function(radius, pos, digger, onlyowner, infolevel)
-
-  local distance = radius * 2
-
-  -- load mapblocks in a cross pattern
-  load_from_cache(vector.add(pos, {x=-distance, y=0, z=0}))
-  load_from_cache(vector.add(pos, {x=0, y=-distance, z=0}))
-  load_from_cache(vector.add(pos, {x=0, y=0, z=-distance}))
-  load_from_cache(vector.add(pos, {x=distance, y=0, z=0}))
-  load_from_cache(vector.add(pos, {x=0, y=distance, z=0}))
-  load_from_cache(vector.add(pos, {x=0, y=0, z=distance}))
-
-  return old_can_dig(radius, pos, digger, onlyowner, infolevel)
-end
-
-
--- additionally do periodic forceloads from cache
--- near players
--- https://github.com/minetest/minetest/issues/9849
--- https://gitlab.com/h2mm/mapload_boost/-/blob/master/init.lua
-
-local reload_period = 1
-local time_left = reload_period + 10
-
-minetest.register_globalstep(function(dtime)
-	time_left = time_left - dtime
-	if time_left < 0 then
-		time_left = reload_period
-		for _, player in ipairs(minetest.get_connected_players()) do
-      local pos = player:get_pos()
-      local distance = 16
-
-      -- load mapblocks forcefully
-      load_from_cache(pos)
-      load_from_cache(vector.add(pos, {x=-distance, y=0, z=0}))
-      load_from_cache(vector.add(pos, {x=0, y=-distance, z=0}))
-      load_from_cache(vector.add(pos, {x=0, y=0, z=-distance}))
-      load_from_cache(vector.add(pos, {x=distance, y=0, z=0}))
-      load_from_cache(vector.add(pos, {x=0, y=distance, z=0}))
-      load_from_cache(vector.add(pos, {x=0, y=0, z=distance}))
-		end
-	end
-end)