diff --git a/cloudinit/helpers.py b/cloudinit/helpers.py
index 7d2a3305820..9752ad28319 100644
--- a/cloudinit/helpers.py
+++ b/cloudinit/helpers.py
@@ -451,8 +451,4 @@ def stringify(self, header=None):
             contents = '\n'.join([header, contents, ''])
         return contents
 
-
-def identity(object):
-    return object
-
 # vi: ts=4 expandtab
diff --git a/cloudinit/templater.py b/cloudinit/templater.py
index e47cdedaf73..a00ade200c7 100644
--- a/cloudinit/templater.py
+++ b/cloudinit/templater.py
@@ -21,13 +21,10 @@
     CHEETAH_AVAILABLE = False
 
 try:
-    from jinja2.runtime import implements_to_string
     from jinja2 import Template as JTemplate
     from jinja2 import DebugUndefined as JUndefined
     JINJA_AVAILABLE = True
 except (ImportError, AttributeError):
-    from cloudinit.helpers import identity
-    implements_to_string = identity
     JINJA_AVAILABLE = False
     JUndefined = object
 
@@ -42,7 +39,6 @@
 MISSING_JINJA_PREFIX = u'CI_MISSING_JINJA_VAR/'
 
 
-@implements_to_string   # Needed for python2.7. Otherwise cached super.__str__
 class UndefinedJinjaVariable(JUndefined):
     """Class used to represent any undefined jinja template variable."""