diff --git a/pkg/controller/certificates/cleaner/cleaner.go b/pkg/controller/certificates/cleaner/cleaner.go
index 832c678bfa2..b067c27cd36 100644
--- a/pkg/controller/certificates/cleaner/cleaner.go
+++ b/pkg/controller/certificates/cleaner/cleaner.go
@@ -47,7 +47,6 @@ const (
 	// cleaned up.
 	approvedExpiration = 1 * time.Hour
 	deniedExpiration   = 1 * time.Hour
-	failedExpiration   = 1 * time.Hour
 	pendingExpiration  = 24 * time.Hour
 )