diff --git a/freqtrade/optimize/hyperopt_tools.py b/freqtrade/optimize/hyperopt_tools.py
index b51db4db2..0bb6aba15 100755
--- a/freqtrade/optimize/hyperopt_tools.py
+++ b/freqtrade/optimize/hyperopt_tools.py
@@ -89,18 +89,6 @@ class HyperoptTools():
         else:
             return any(s in config['spaces'] for s in [space, 'all', 'default'])
 
-    @staticmethod
-    def _read_results_pickle(results_file: Path) -> List:
-        """
-        Read hyperopt results from pickle file
-        LEGACY method - new files are written as json and cannot be read with this method.
-        """
-        from joblib import load
-
-        logger.info(f"Reading pickled epochs from '{results_file}'")
-        data = load(results_file)
-        return data
-
     @staticmethod
     def _read_results(results_file: Path) -> List:
         """
@@ -120,7 +108,10 @@ class HyperoptTools():
         epochs: List = []
         if results_file.is_file() and results_file.stat().st_size > 0:
             if results_file.suffix == '.pickle':
-                epochs = HyperoptTools._read_results_pickle(results_file)
+                raise OperationalException(
+                    "Legacy hyperopt results are no longer supported."
+                    "Please rerun hyperopt or use an older version to load this file."
+                )
             else:
                 epochs = HyperoptTools._read_results(results_file)
             # Detection of some old format, without 'is_best' field saved
diff --git a/tests/optimize/test_hyperopt_tools.py b/tests/optimize/test_hyperopt_tools.py
index 44b4a7a03..d59a44da7 100644
--- a/tests/optimize/test_hyperopt_tools.py
+++ b/tests/optimize/test_hyperopt_tools.py
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@ import rapidjson
 from freqtrade.constants import FTHYPT_FILEVERSION
 from freqtrade.exceptions import OperationalException
 from freqtrade.optimize.hyperopt_tools import HyperoptTools, hyperopt_serializer
-from tests.conftest import log_has, log_has_re
+from tests.conftest import log_has
 
 
 # Functions for recurrent object patching
@@ -37,31 +37,10 @@ def test_save_results_saves_epochs(hyperopt, tmpdir, caplog) -> None:
     assert len(hyperopt_epochs) == 2
 
 
-def test_load_previous_results(testdatadir, caplog) -> None:
-
-    results_file = testdatadir / 'hyperopt_results_SampleStrategy.pickle'
-
-    hyperopt_epochs = HyperoptTools.load_previous_results(results_file)
-
-    assert len(hyperopt_epochs) == 5
-    assert log_has_re(r"Reading pickled epochs from .*", caplog)
-
-    caplog.clear()
-
-    # Modern version
-    results_file = testdatadir / 'strategy_SampleStrategy.fthypt'
-
-    hyperopt_epochs = HyperoptTools.load_previous_results(results_file)
-
-    assert len(hyperopt_epochs) == 5
-    assert log_has_re(r"Reading epochs from .*", caplog)
-
-
 def test_load_previous_results2(mocker, testdatadir, caplog) -> None:
-    mocker.patch('freqtrade.optimize.hyperopt_tools.HyperoptTools._read_results_pickle',
-                 return_value=[{'asdf': '222'}])
     results_file = testdatadir / 'hyperopt_results_SampleStrategy.pickle'
-    with pytest.raises(OperationalException, match=r"The file .* incompatible.*"):
+    with pytest.raises(OperationalException,
+                       match=r"Legacy hyperopt results are no longer supported.*"):
         HyperoptTools.load_previous_results(results_file)