diff --git a/debian/changelog b/debian/changelog
index 1a08f9d2263fdcd2c541660f20398c9233a61329..b8abb56b41356378b805a9b2212f36adb251d959 100644
--- a/debian/changelog
+++ b/debian/changelog
@@ -1,3 +1,10 @@
+tar (1.30+dfsg-6) unstable; urgency=medium
+
+  * eliminate ancient prerm cleanup code that breaks with merged /usr, 
+    and is no longer considered useful, closes: #926722
+
+ -- Bdale Garbee <bdale@gag.com>  Tue, 23 Apr 2019 10:05:54 -0600
+
 tar (1.30+dfsg-5) unstable; urgency=medium
 
   * change libexecdir in configure to /usr/sbin, closes: #760247, #919493
diff --git a/debian/prerm b/debian/prerm
index 6d54f81a1b5b54e07208b67c20b991e1ce9921b6..032698c4d3650505449e84f22d23b116e7023d31 100644
--- a/debian/prerm
+++ b/debian/prerm
@@ -4,9 +4,6 @@ set -e
 case "$1" in
     remove|deconfigure)
 	update-alternatives --remove rmt /usr/sbin/rmt-tar
-	if test -L /sbin/rmt && test /sbin/rmt -ef /usr/sbin/rmt; then
-		rm -f /sbin/rmt
-	fi
     ;;
     upgrade|failed-upgrade)
     ;;