diff --git a/packages/core/src/icons/icons.tsx b/packages/core/src/icons/icons.tsx
deleted file mode 100644
index e8834a6162..0000000000
--- a/packages/core/src/icons/icons.tsx
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,39 +0,0 @@
-/*
- * Copyright 2020 Spotify AB
- *
- * Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
- * you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
- * You may obtain a copy of the License at
- *
- *     http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
- *
- * Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
- * distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
- * WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
- * See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
- * limitations under the License.
- */
-
-import { SvgIconProps } from '@material-ui/core';
-import PeopleIcon from '@material-ui/icons/People';
-import PersonIcon from '@material-ui/icons/Person';
-import React, { FC } from 'react';
-import { useApp } from '@backstage/core-api';
-import { IconComponent, SystemIconKey, SystemIcons } from './types';
-
-export const defaultSystemIcons: SystemIcons = {
-  user: PersonIcon,
-  group: PeopleIcon,
-};
-
-const overridableSystemIcon = (key: SystemIconKey): IconComponent => {
-  const Component: FC<SvgIconProps> = props => {
-    const app = useApp();
-    const Icon = app.getSystemIcon(key);
-    return <Icon {...props} />;
-  };
-  return Component;
-};
-
-export const UserIcon = overridableSystemIcon('user');
-export const GroupIcon = overridableSystemIcon('group');
diff --git a/packages/core/src/icons/index.ts b/packages/core/src/icons/index.ts
deleted file mode 100644
index 4c97d27176..0000000000
--- a/packages/core/src/icons/index.ts
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,18 +0,0 @@
-/*
- * Copyright 2020 Spotify AB
- *
- * Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
- * you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
- * You may obtain a copy of the License at
- *
- *     http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
- *
- * Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
- * distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
- * WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
- * See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
- * limitations under the License.
- */
-
-export * from './icons';
-export * from './types';
diff --git a/packages/core/src/icons/types.ts b/packages/core/src/icons/types.ts
deleted file mode 100644
index 599cb969df..0000000000
--- a/packages/core/src/icons/types.ts
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,21 +0,0 @@
-/*
- * Copyright 2020 Spotify AB
- *
- * Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
- * you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
- * You may obtain a copy of the License at
- *
- *     http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
- *
- * Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
- * distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
- * WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
- * See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
- * limitations under the License.
- */
-
-import { ComponentType } from 'react';
-import { SvgIconProps } from '@material-ui/core';
-export type IconComponent = ComponentType<SvgIconProps>;
-export type SystemIconKey = 'user' | 'group';
-export type SystemIcons = { [key in SystemIconKey]: IconComponent };
diff --git a/packages/core/src/index.ts b/packages/core/src/index.ts
index 37f01eb3f4..fc4d5e82c4 100644
--- a/packages/core/src/index.ts
+++ b/packages/core/src/index.ts
@@ -39,4 +39,3 @@ export { default as TrendLine } from './components/TrendLine';
 export { FeatureCalloutCircular } from './components/FeatureDiscovery/FeatureCalloutCircular';
 export * from './components/Status';
 export { default as WarningPanel } from './components/WarningPanel';
-export type { IconComponent } from './icons';
diff --git a/packages/core/src/layout/Sidebar/Items.tsx b/packages/core/src/layout/Sidebar/Items.tsx
index 4696f53a37..ddd71cc189 100644
--- a/packages/core/src/layout/Sidebar/Items.tsx
+++ b/packages/core/src/layout/Sidebar/Items.tsx
@@ -22,12 +22,12 @@ import {
   Typography,
   Badge,
 } from '@material-ui/core';
+import { IconComponent } from '@backstage/core-api';
 import SearchIcon from '@material-ui/icons/Search';
 import clsx from 'clsx';
 import React, { FC, useContext, useState, KeyboardEventHandler } from 'react';
 import { NavLink } from 'react-router-dom';
 import { sidebarConfig, SidebarContext } from './config';
-import { IconComponent } from '../../icons';
 
 const useStyles = makeStyles<Theme>(theme => {
   const {