diff --git a/Makefile.am b/Makefile.am
index 6ec5dab0..346008ad 100644
--- a/Makefile.am
+++ b/Makefile.am
@@ -1,47 +1,6 @@
-if USE_PCH
-#BUILT_SOURCES = pchpic.h.gch pchnopic.h.gch
-BUILT_SOURCES = pchnopic.h.gch
-#CLEANFILES = pchpic.h.gch pchnopic.h.gch
-CLEANFILES = pchnopic.h.gch
-endif
-
-######################################################################
-
-#bin_PROGRAMS = xpath
-#
-#xpath_CXXFLAGS = -DTEST
-#xpath_SOURCES = \
-#	amount.cc      \
-#	datetime.cc    \
-#	quotes.cc      \
-#	balance.cc     \
-#	value.cc       \
-#	mask.cc        \
-#	xml.cc         \
-#	xpath.cc       \
-#	trace.cc       \
-#	util.cc
-#xpath_LDADD = $(LIBOBJS)
-#if HAVE_EXPAT
-#xpath_CXXFLAGS += -DHAVE_EXPAT=1
-#endif
-#if HAVE_XMLPARSE
-#xpath_CXXFLAGS += -DHAVE_XMLPARSE=1
-#endif
-#if DEBUG
-#xpath_CXXFLAGS += -DDEBUG_LEVEL=4
-#xpath_SOURCES  += debug.cc
-#endif
-#xpath_LDFLAGS = -static	# for the sake of command-line speed
-
-######################################################################
-
 lib_LTLIBRARIES = libledger.la
 
 libledger_la_CXXFLAGS =
-if USE_PCH
-libledger_la_CXXFLAGS += -DUSE_PCH -Winvalid-pch -fpch-deps
-endif
 libledger_la_SOURCES = \
 	amount.cc      \
 	quotes.cc      \
@@ -129,12 +88,6 @@ pkginclude_HEADERS = \
 	xml.h        \
 	xpath.h
 
-pchpic.h.gch: pch.h pchdata.h $(pkginclude_HEADERS)
-	$(CXXCOMPILE) $(CXXFLAGS) -DPIC -o $@ pchdata.h
-
-pchnopic.h.gch: pch.h pchdata.h $(pkginclude_HEADERS)
-	$(CXXCOMPILE) $(CXXFLAGS) -o $@ pchdata.h
-
 ######################################################################
 
 bin_PROGRAMS = ledger
diff --git a/amount.cc b/amount.cc
index bd690144..7ebbc004 100644
--- a/amount.cc
+++ b/amount.cc
@@ -1,6 +1,3 @@
-#ifdef USE_PCH
-#include "pch.h"
-#else
 #include "amount.h"
 #include "binary.h"
 #include "util.h"
@@ -10,7 +7,6 @@
 #include <cstdlib>
 
 #include <gmp.h>
-#endif
 
 namespace ledger {
 
@@ -1927,10 +1923,8 @@ bool compare_amount_commodities::operator()(const amount_t * left,
 
 #ifdef USE_BOOST_PYTHON
 
-#ifndef USE_PCH
 #include <boost/python.hpp>
 #include <Python.h>
-#endif
 
 using namespace boost::python;
 using namespace ledger;
diff --git a/balance.cc b/balance.cc
index c949075e..4bce6d70 100644
--- a/balance.cc
+++ b/balance.cc
@@ -1,12 +1,8 @@
-#ifdef USE_PCH
-#include "pch.h"
-#else
 #include "balance.h"
 #include "util.h"
 
 #include <deque>
 #include <algorithm>
-#endif
 
 namespace ledger {
 
@@ -326,9 +322,7 @@ balance_t::operator amount_t() const
 
 #ifdef USE_BOOST_PYTHON
 
-#ifndef USE_PCH
 #include <boost/python.hpp>
-#endif
 
 using namespace boost::python;
 using namespace ledger;
diff --git a/binary.cc b/binary.cc
index a94b6690..9ac40bdb 100644
--- a/binary.cc
+++ b/binary.cc
@@ -1,11 +1,7 @@
-#ifdef USE_PCH
-#include "pch.h"
-#else
 #include "binary.h"
 
 #include <fstream>
 #include <sys/stat.h>
-#endif
 
 namespace ledger {
 
diff --git a/configure.in b/configure.in
index 51fcec85..c8e8e42c 100644
--- a/configure.in
+++ b/configure.in
@@ -252,16 +252,6 @@ else
   AM_CONDITIONAL(HAVE_BOOST_PYTHON, false)
 fi
 
-# check for Precompiled headers (gcc4-style)
-AC_ARG_ENABLE(pch,
-  [  --enable-pch            Enable support for pre-compiled headers],
-  [case "${enableval}" in
-    yes) pch=true ;;
-    no)  pch=false ;;
-    *) AC_MSG_ERROR(bad value ${enableval} for --enable-pch) ;;
-  esac],[pch=false])
-AM_CONDITIONAL(USE_PCH, test x$pch = xtrue)
-
 # Check for options
 AC_ARG_ENABLE(debug,
   [  --enable-debug          Turn on debugging],
diff --git a/datetime.cc b/datetime.cc
index acf968bc..ac20d64b 100644
--- a/datetime.cc
+++ b/datetime.cc
@@ -1,6 +1,3 @@
-#ifdef USE_PCH
-#include "pch.h"
-#else
 #if defined(__GNUG__) && __GNUG__ < 3
 #define _XOPEN_SOURCE
 #endif
@@ -10,7 +7,6 @@
 
 #include <ctime>
 #include <cctype>
-#endif
 
 date_t       date_t::now(std::time(NULL));
 int	     date_t::current_year = date_t::now.year();
@@ -457,9 +453,7 @@ void interval_t::parse(std::istream& in)
 
 #ifdef USE_BOOST_PYTHON
 
-#ifndef USE_PCH
 #include <boost/python.hpp>
-#endif
 
 using namespace boost::python;
 
diff --git a/debug.cc b/debug.cc
index 9b98b1f4..b3b140bc 100644
--- a/debug.cc
+++ b/debug.cc
@@ -1,17 +1,11 @@
-#ifdef USE_PCH
-#include "pch.h"
-#else
 #include "debug.h"
-#endif
 
 #ifdef DEBUG_ENABLED
 
-#ifndef USE_PCH
 #include <map>
 #include <fstream>
 
 #include <unistd.h>		// for the `write' method
-#endif
 
 int offset = 0;
 
@@ -119,9 +113,7 @@ static struct init_streams {
 
 #if DEBUG_LEVEL >= BETA
 
-#ifndef USE_PCH
 #include <string>
-#endif
 
 void debug_assert(const std::string& reason,
 		  const std::string& file,
diff --git a/format.cc b/format.cc
index 3f11fec0..cb76ff8a 100644
--- a/format.cc
+++ b/format.cc
@@ -1,6 +1,3 @@
-#ifdef USE_PCH
-#include "pch.h"
-#else
 #include "format.h"
 #include "error.h"
 #include "util.h"
@@ -9,7 +6,6 @@
 #endif
 
 #include <cstdlib>
-#endif
 
 namespace ledger {
 
@@ -245,9 +241,7 @@ int format_t::format(std::ostream& out, xml::node_t * context,
 
 #ifdef USE_BOOST_PYTHON
 
-#ifndef USE_PCH
 #include <boost/python.hpp>
-#endif
 
 using namespace boost::python;
 using namespace ledger;
diff --git a/gnucash.cc b/gnucash.cc
index b988e0d7..8095f9f3 100644
--- a/gnucash.cc
+++ b/gnucash.cc
@@ -1,8 +1,4 @@
-#ifdef USE_PCH
-#include "pch.h"
-#else
 #include "gnucash.h"
-#endif
 
 namespace ledger {
 
diff --git a/journal.cc b/journal.cc
index 673b281c..1da58fdc 100644
--- a/journal.cc
+++ b/journal.cc
@@ -1,6 +1,3 @@
-#ifdef USE_PCH
-#include "pch.h"
-#else
 #include "journal.h"
 #include "datetime.h"
 #include "mask.h"
@@ -11,7 +8,6 @@
 #include "acconf.h"
 
 #include <fstream>
-#endif
 
 namespace ledger {
 
@@ -668,10 +664,8 @@ xact_context::xact_context(const ledger::transaction_t& _xact,
 
 #ifdef USE_BOOST_PYTHON
 
-#ifndef USE_PCH
 #include <boost/python.hpp>
 #include <boost/python/exception_translator.hpp>
-#endif
 
 using namespace boost::python;
 using namespace ledger;
diff --git a/main.cc b/main.cc
index 0609c96d..b425598f 100644
--- a/main.cc
+++ b/main.cc
@@ -1,6 +1,3 @@
-#ifdef USE_PCH
-#include "pch.h"
-#else
 #include <iostream>
 #include <fstream>
 #include <sstream>
@@ -28,7 +25,6 @@
 #include "ledger.h"
 #endif
 #include "debug.h"
-#endif
 
 using namespace ledger;
 
diff --git a/mask.cc b/mask.cc
index 7a7a1fc3..ea621206 100644
--- a/mask.cc
+++ b/mask.cc
@@ -1,6 +1,3 @@
-#ifdef USE_PCH
-#include "pch.h"
-#else
 #include "mask.h"
 #include "debug.h"
 #include "util.h"
@@ -8,7 +5,6 @@
 #include <cstdlib>
 
 #include <pcre.h>
-#endif
 
 mask_t::mask_t(const std::string& pat) : exclude(false)
 {
diff --git a/ofx.cc b/ofx.cc
index 9a74c750..5f0ab6f4 100644
--- a/ofx.cc
+++ b/ofx.cc
@@ -1,6 +1,3 @@
-#ifdef USE_PCH
-#include "pch.h"
-#else
 #include "journal.h"
 #include "ofx.h"
 #include "format.h"
@@ -10,7 +7,6 @@
 #include "util.h"
 
 #include <libofx.h>
-#endif
 
 namespace ledger {
 
diff --git a/option.cc b/option.cc
index 3f84d21a..ef78bfd9 100644
--- a/option.cc
+++ b/option.cc
@@ -1,6 +1,3 @@
-#ifdef USE_PCH
-#include "pch.h"
-#else
 #include "option.h"
 #include "report.h"
 #include "debug.h"
@@ -13,7 +10,6 @@
 #include <cstdarg>
 
 #include "util.h"
-#endif
 
 #ifdef USE_BOOST_PYTHON
 static ledger::option_t * find_option(const std::string& name);
@@ -212,11 +208,9 @@ void process_arguments(int argc, char ** argv, const bool anywhere,
 
 #ifdef USE_BOOST_PYTHON
 
-#ifndef USE_PCH
 #include <boost/python.hpp>
 #include <boost/python/detail/api_placeholder.hpp>
 #include <boost/python/suite/indexing/map_indexing_suite.hpp>
-#endif
 
 using namespace boost::python;
 using namespace ledger;
diff --git a/parser.cc b/parser.cc
index 78076683..1e743008 100644
--- a/parser.cc
+++ b/parser.cc
@@ -1,15 +1,9 @@
-#ifdef USE_PCH
-#include "pch.h"
-#else
 #include "parser.h"
-#endif
 
 #ifdef USE_BOOST_PYTHON
 
-#ifndef USE_PCH
 #include <boost/python.hpp>
 #include <Python.h>
-#endif
 
 using namespace boost::python;
 using namespace ledger;
diff --git a/py_eval.cc b/py_eval.cc
index ec656035..eb514f88 100644
--- a/py_eval.cc
+++ b/py_eval.cc
@@ -1,12 +1,8 @@
-#ifdef USE_PCH
-#include "pch.h"
-#else
 #include "py_eval.h"
 #include "error.h"
 #include "acconf.h"
 
 #include <istream>
-#endif
 
 void export_amount();
 void export_balance();
diff --git a/qif.cc b/qif.cc
index c0dbc939..17eecc10 100644
--- a/qif.cc
+++ b/qif.cc
@@ -1,6 +1,3 @@
-#ifdef USE_PCH
-#include "pch.h"
-#else
 #include "journal.h"
 #include "qif.h"
 #include "datetime.h"
@@ -9,7 +6,6 @@
 
 #include <cstring>
 #include <memory>
-#endif
 
 namespace ledger {
 
diff --git a/quotes.cc b/quotes.cc
index b097d97d..a8fbfbc5 100644
--- a/quotes.cc
+++ b/quotes.cc
@@ -1,6 +1,3 @@
-#ifdef USE_PCH
-#include "pch.h"
-#else
 #include "quotes.h"
 #include "datetime.h"
 #include "error.h"
@@ -9,7 +6,6 @@
 #include <fstream>
 #include <cstdlib>
 #include <cstdio>
-#endif
 
 namespace ledger {
 
diff --git a/report.cc b/report.cc
index 2ebe32e8..191af340 100644
--- a/report.cc
+++ b/report.cc
@@ -1,10 +1,6 @@
-#ifdef USE_PCH
-#include "pch.h"
-#else
 #include "report.h"
 #include "transform.h"
 #include "util.h"
-#endif
 
 namespace ledger {
 
@@ -192,9 +188,7 @@ xml::xpath_t::op_t * report_t::lookup(const std::string& name)
 
 #ifdef USE_BOOST_PYTHON
 
-#ifndef USE_PCH
 #include <boost/python.hpp>
-#endif
 
 using namespace boost::python;
 using namespace ledger;
diff --git a/session.cc b/session.cc
index d952142d..e22febdc 100644
--- a/session.cc
+++ b/session.cc
@@ -1,10 +1,6 @@
-#ifdef USE_PCH
-#include "pch.h"
-#else
 #include "session.h"
 
 #include <fstream>
-#endif
 
 namespace ledger {
 
@@ -196,9 +192,7 @@ xml::xpath_t::op_t * session_t::lookup(const std::string& name)
 
 #ifdef USE_BOOST_PYTHON
 
-#ifndef USE_PCH
 #include <boost/python.hpp>
-#endif
 
 using namespace boost::python;
 using namespace ledger;
diff --git a/textual.cc b/textual.cc
index ecd87f33..b1c19308 100644
--- a/textual.cc
+++ b/textual.cc
@@ -1,6 +1,3 @@
-#ifdef USE_PCH
-#include "pch.h"
-#else
 #include "textual.h"
 #include "session.h"
 #include "util.h"
@@ -16,7 +13,6 @@
 #include <cctype>
 #include <cstdio>
 #include <cstdlib>
-#endif
 
 #define TIMELOG_SUPPORT 1
 
diff --git a/trace.cc b/trace.cc
index 46f250e1..e82b5a5e 100644
--- a/trace.cc
+++ b/trace.cc
@@ -1,9 +1,5 @@
-#ifdef USE_PCH
-#include "pch.h"
-#else
 #include "trace.h"
 #include "acconf.h"
-#endif
 
 namespace ledger {
 
diff --git a/transform.cc b/transform.cc
index 58ee091e..29b493f6 100644
--- a/transform.cc
+++ b/transform.cc
@@ -1,8 +1,4 @@
-#ifdef USE_PCH
-#include "pch.h"
-#else
 #include "transform.h"
-#endif
 
 namespace ledger {
 
@@ -332,9 +328,7 @@ void remove_transform::execute(xml::document_t * document)
 #if 0
 #ifdef USE_BOOST_PYTHON
 
-#ifndef USE_PCH
 #include <boost/python.hpp>
-#endif
 
 using namespace boost::python;
 using namespace ledger;
diff --git a/util.cc b/util.cc
index afa71c44..503d6105 100644
--- a/util.cc
+++ b/util.cc
@@ -1,6 +1,3 @@
-#ifdef USE_PCH
-#include "pch.h"
-#else
 #include "util.h"
 
 #include <list>
@@ -17,7 +14,6 @@
 #if defined(HAVE_GETPWUID) || defined(HAVE_GETPWNAM)
 #include <pwd.h>
 #endif
-#endif
 
 std::string expand_path(const std::string& path)
 {
diff --git a/value.cc b/value.cc
index 8da7681b..52d9fd6d 100644
--- a/value.cc
+++ b/value.cc
@@ -1,11 +1,7 @@
-#ifdef USE_PCH
-#include "pch.h"
-#else
 #include "value.h"
 #include "xml.h"
 #include "debug.h"
 #include "error.h"
-#endif
 
 namespace ledger {
 
@@ -2311,9 +2307,7 @@ void value_context::describe(std::ostream& out) const throw()
 
 #ifdef USE_BOOST_PYTHON
 
-#ifndef USE_PCH
 #include <boost/python.hpp>
-#endif
 
 using namespace boost::python;
 using namespace ledger;
diff --git a/xml.cc b/xml.cc
index e75130c7..7705d5bb 100644
--- a/xml.cc
+++ b/xml.cc
@@ -1,6 +1,3 @@
-#ifdef USE_PCH
-#include "pch.h"
-#else
 #include "xml.h"
 #include "journal.h"
 #include "datetime.h"
@@ -9,7 +6,6 @@
 #include <iostream>
 #include <sstream>
 #include <cstring>
-#endif
 
 namespace ledger {
 namespace xml {
diff --git a/xpath.cc b/xpath.cc
index 3d43fff5..ccf0ec82 100644
--- a/xpath.cc
+++ b/xpath.cc
@@ -1,6 +1,3 @@
-#ifdef USE_PCH
-#include "pch.h"
-#else
 #include "xpath.h"
 #include "debug.h"
 #include "util.h"
@@ -8,7 +5,6 @@
 #include "py_eval.h"
 #endif
 #include <fstream>
-#endif
 
 namespace ledger {
 namespace xml {
@@ -2388,9 +2384,7 @@ void xpath_t::op_t::dump(std::ostream& out, const int depth) const
 
 #ifdef USE_BOOST_PYTHON
 
-#ifndef USE_PCH
 #include <boost/python.hpp>
-#endif
 
 using namespace boost::python;
 using namespace ledger;