diff --git a/cmd/import.go b/cmd/import.go
index 5c05949f9..3d63586ce 100644
--- a/cmd/import.go
+++ b/cmd/import.go
@@ -51,7 +51,6 @@ omitted. If it is present then its format should be YYYY-MM-DDTHH:MM.
 	flags.StringVarP(&Importer.Host, "host", "", "localhost:10101", "host:port of Pilosa.")
 	flags.StringVarP(&Importer.Index, "index", "i", "", "Pilosa index to import into.")
 	flags.StringVarP(&Importer.Field, "field", "f", "", "Field to import into.")
-	flags.BoolVar(&Importer.StringKeys, "string-keys", false, "REMOVED (key type is now determined by index/field configuration): Treat payload as string keys.")
 	flags.BoolVar(&Importer.IndexKeys, "index-keys", false, "use keys=true when creating an index")
 	flags.BoolVar(&Importer.FieldKeys, "field-keys", false, "use keys=true when creating a field")
 	flags.IntVarP(&Importer.BufferSize, "buffer-size", "s", 10000000, "Number of bits to buffer/sort before importing.")
diff --git a/ctl/import.go b/ctl/import.go
index 83c95be84..1c000dd73 100644
--- a/ctl/import.go
+++ b/ctl/import.go
@@ -49,10 +49,6 @@ type ImportCommand struct { // nolint: maligned
 	// CreateSchema ensures the schema exists before import
 	CreateSchema bool
 
-	// REMOVED: Indicates that the payload should be treated as string keys.
-	// TODO: remove this in a future release
-	StringKeys bool `json:"StringKeys"`
-
 	// IndexKeys makes the import command use keys=true when creating an index
 	IndexKeys bool `json:"indexKeys"`
 
@@ -89,11 +85,6 @@ func NewImportCommand(stdin io.Reader, stdout, stderr io.Writer) *ImportCommand
 func (cmd *ImportCommand) Run(ctx context.Context) error {
 	logger := log.New(cmd.Stderr, "", log.LstdFlags)
 
-	// REMOVED: warning that --string-keys flag has been deprecated.
-	if cmd.StringKeys {
-		logger.Printf("REMOVED: The string-keys flag is no longer used.")
-	}
-
 	// Validate arguments.
 	// Index and field are validated early before the files are parsed.
 	if cmd.Index == "" {