diff --git a/datalad_next/runners/run.py b/datalad_next/runners/run.py
index 502519660..983cd6ed2 100644
--- a/datalad_next/runners/run.py
+++ b/datalad_next/runners/run.py
@@ -5,7 +5,6 @@
 from __future__ import annotations
 
 import subprocess
-import sys
 from collections.abc import Generator
 from contextlib import contextmanager
 from pathlib import Path