diff --git a/doc/tools/pkcs15-init.1.xml b/doc/tools/pkcs15-init.1.xml
index bed58f43..212358bd 100644
--- a/doc/tools/pkcs15-init.1.xml
+++ b/doc/tools/pkcs15-init.1.xml
@@ -346,27 +346,6 @@
 					</listitem>
 				</varlistentry>
 
-				<varlistentry>
-					<term>
-						<option>--options-file</option> <replaceable>filename</replaceable>
-					</term>
-					<listitem>
-						<para>
-							Tells <command>pkcs15-init</command> to read additional options
-							from <replaceable>filename</replaceable>. The file is supposed to
-							contain one long option per line, without the leading dashes,
-							for instance:
-							<programlisting>
-pin		1234
-puk		87654321
-							</programlisting>
-						</para>
-						<para>
-							You can specify <option>--options-file</option> several times.
-						</para>
-					</listitem>
-				</varlistentry>
-
 				<varlistentry>
 					<term>
 						<option>--pin</option>,
@@ -384,10 +363,9 @@ puk		87654321
 							that on most operation systems, any user can
 							display the command line of any process on the
 							system using utilities such as
-							<command>ps(1)</command>. Therefore, you should use
-							these options only on a secured system, or in an
-							options file specified with
-							<option>--options-file</option>.
+							<command>ps(1)</command>. Therefore, you should prefer
+							passing the values via a hidden environment variable
+							on an unsecured system.
 						</para>
 					</listitem>
 				</varlistentry>
diff --git a/src/tools/pkcs15-init.c b/src/tools/pkcs15-init.c
index 899f5306..5339402e 100644
--- a/src/tools/pkcs15-init.c
+++ b/src/tools/pkcs15-init.c
@@ -115,13 +115,11 @@ static int	do_read_public_key(const char *, const char *, EVP_PKEY **);
 static int	do_read_certificate(const char *, const char *, X509 **);
 static char *	cert_common_name(X509 *x509);
 static void	parse_commandline(int argc, char **argv);
-static void	read_options_file(const char *);
 static void	ossl_print_errors(void);
 static int	verify_pin(struct sc_pkcs15_card *, char *);
 
 enum {
-	OPT_OPTIONS = 0x100,
-	OPT_PASSPHRASE,
+	OPT_PASSPHRASE = 0x100,
 	OPT_PUBKEY,
 	OPT_SECRKEY,
 	OPT_EXTRACTABLE,
@@ -213,7 +211,6 @@ const struct option	options[] = {
 
 	{ "profile",		required_argument, NULL,	'p' },
 	{ "card-profile",	required_argument, NULL,	'c' },
-	{ "options-file",	required_argument, NULL,	OPT_OPTIONS },
 	{ "md-container-guid",	required_argument, NULL,	OPT_MD_CONTAINER_GUID},
 	{ "wait",		no_argument, NULL,		'w' },
 	{ "help",		no_argument, NULL,		'h' },
@@ -279,7 +276,6 @@ static const char *		option_help[] = {
 
 	"Specify the general profile to use",
 	"Specify the card profile to use",
-	"Read additional command line options from file",
 	"For a new key specify GUID for a MD container",
 	"Wait for card insertion",
 	"Display this message",
@@ -2774,9 +2770,6 @@ handle_option(const struct option *opt)
 	case 'w':
 		opt_wait = 1;
 		break;
-	case OPT_OPTIONS:
-		read_options_file(optarg);
-		break;
 	case OPT_PIN1: case OPT_PUK1:
 	case OPT_PIN2: case OPT_PUK2:
 		util_get_pin(optarg, &(opt_pins[opt->val & 3]));
@@ -2954,55 +2947,6 @@ next: ;
 	}
 }
 
-/*
- * Read a file containing more command line options.
- * This allows you to specify PINs to pkcs15-init without
- * exposing them through ps.
- */
-static void
-read_options_file(const char *filename)
-{
-	const struct option	*o;
-	char		buffer[1024], *name;
-	FILE		*fp;
-
-	if ((fp = fopen(filename, "r")) == NULL)
-		util_fatal("Unable to open %s: %m", filename);
-	while (fgets(buffer, sizeof(buffer), fp) != NULL) {
-		buffer[strcspn(buffer, "\n")] = '\0';
-
-		name = strtok(buffer, " \t");
-		while (name) {
-			if (*name == '#')
-				break;
-			for (o = options; o->name; o++)
-				if (!strcmp(o->name, name))
-					break;
-			if (!o->name) {
-				util_error("Unknown option \"%s\"\n", name);
-				util_print_usage_and_die(app_name, options, option_help, NULL);
-			}
-			if (o->has_arg != no_argument) {
-				optarg = strtok(NULL, "");
-				if (optarg) {
-					while (isspace((int) *optarg))
-						optarg++;
-					optarg = strdup(optarg);
-				}
-			}
-			if (o->has_arg == required_argument
-			 && (!optarg || !*optarg)) {
-				util_error("Option %s: missing argument\n", name);
-				util_print_usage_and_die(app_name, options, option_help, NULL);
-			}
-			handle_option(o);
-			name = strtok(NULL, " \t");
-		}
-	}
-	fclose(fp);
-}
-
-
 /*
  * OpenSSL helpers
  */