diff --git a/install b/install
index 3026379..a615c54 100755
--- a/install
+++ b/install
@@ -18,14 +18,6 @@ dotless() {
 }
 
 backup() {
-    if [ -n "$2" ] && [ $hassum -eq 1 ]; then
-        old="$(sha256sum "$1")"
-        new="$(sha256sum "$2")"
-        if [ "${new%% *}" == "${old%% *}" ]; then
-            note "overwriting $1"
-            return 0
-        fi
-    fi
     note "backing up $1"
     mkdir -p "${backup_dir:?backup_dir unset}/$(dirname "$1")"
     [ -e "$backup_dir/$1" ] && die "backup already exists"
@@ -37,7 +29,7 @@ hardlink() {
         [ "$1" -ef "$2" ] && return
         [ -h "$1" ] && note "removing symbolic link $1" && rm "$1"
         if [ -s "$1" ]; then
-            backup "$1" "$2" || die "$1 already exists"
+            backup "$1" || die "$1 already exists"
         fi
     fi
 
@@ -104,7 +96,6 @@ softlink() {
 }
 
 which readlink >/dev/null || exit 1
-which sha256sum >/dev/null && hassum=1 || hassum=0
 
 rc="$(readlink -f "$(dirname "$0")" )"
 cd "$HOME"