diff --git a/src/ocrmypdf/_validation.py b/src/ocrmypdf/_validation.py
index 3e0e3526..2770874a 100644
--- a/src/ocrmypdf/_validation.py
+++ b/src/ocrmypdf/_validation.py
@@ -21,6 +21,7 @@ import logging
 import os
 import sys
 from pathlib import Path
+from shutil import copyfileobj
 
 import PIL
 
@@ -334,8 +335,6 @@ def create_input_file(options, work_folder):
         log.info('reading file from standard input')
         target = os.path.join(work_folder, 'stdin')
         with open(target, 'wb') as stream_buffer:
-            from shutil import copyfileobj
-
             copyfileobj(sys.stdin.buffer, stream_buffer)
         return target
     else:
@@ -347,21 +346,6 @@ def create_input_file(options, work_folder):
             raise InputFileError(f"File not found - {options.input_file}")
 
 
-def check_input_file(options, start_input_file):
-    if options.input_file == '-':
-        # stdin
-        log.info('reading file from standard input')
-        with open(start_input_file, 'wb') as stream_buffer:
-            from shutil import copyfileobj
-
-            copyfileobj(sys.stdin.buffer, stream_buffer)
-    else:
-        try:
-            re_symlink(options.input_file, start_input_file)
-        except FileNotFoundError:
-            raise InputFileError(f"File not found - {options.input_file}")
-
-
 def check_requested_output_file(options):
     if options.output_file == '-':
         if sys.stdout.isatty():