diff --git a/test/parameters.json b/test/parameters.json
index 48b5a062e5..7bf59c25fd 100644
--- a/test/parameters.json
+++ b/test/parameters.json
@@ -8,7 +8,6 @@
     "forcetitle": false, 
     "forceurl": false, 
     "format": "best",
-    "format_limit": null, 
     "ignoreerrors": false, 
     "listformats": null, 
     "logtostderr": false, 
diff --git a/test/test_YoutubeDL.py b/test/test_YoutubeDL.py
index 820e55ec2a..bb4a65ee18 100644
--- a/test/test_YoutubeDL.py
+++ b/test/test_YoutubeDL.py
@@ -101,39 +101,6 @@ class TestFormatSelection(unittest.TestCase):
         downloaded = ydl.downloaded_info_dicts[0]
         self.assertEqual(downloaded['ext'], 'flv')
 
-    def test_format_limit(self):
-        formats = [
-            {'format_id': 'meh', 'url': 'http://example.com/meh', 'preference': 1},
-            {'format_id': 'good', 'url': 'http://example.com/good', 'preference': 2},
-            {'format_id': 'great', 'url': 'http://example.com/great', 'preference': 3},
-            {'format_id': 'excellent', 'url': 'http://example.com/exc', 'preference': 4},
-        ]
-        info_dict = _make_result(formats)
-
-        ydl = YDL()
-        ydl.process_ie_result(info_dict)
-        downloaded = ydl.downloaded_info_dicts[0]
-        self.assertEqual(downloaded['format_id'], 'excellent')
-
-        ydl = YDL({'format_limit': 'good'})
-        assert ydl.params['format_limit'] == 'good'
-        ydl.process_ie_result(info_dict.copy())
-        downloaded = ydl.downloaded_info_dicts[0]
-        self.assertEqual(downloaded['format_id'], 'good')
-
-        ydl = YDL({'format_limit': 'great', 'format': 'all'})
-        ydl.process_ie_result(info_dict.copy())
-        self.assertEqual(ydl.downloaded_info_dicts[0]['format_id'], 'meh')
-        self.assertEqual(ydl.downloaded_info_dicts[1]['format_id'], 'good')
-        self.assertEqual(ydl.downloaded_info_dicts[2]['format_id'], 'great')
-        self.assertTrue('3' in ydl.msgs[0])
-
-        ydl = YDL()
-        ydl.params['format_limit'] = 'excellent'
-        ydl.process_ie_result(info_dict.copy())
-        downloaded = ydl.downloaded_info_dicts[0]
-        self.assertEqual(downloaded['format_id'], 'excellent')
-
     def test_format_selection(self):
         formats = [
             {'format_id': '35', 'ext': 'mp4', 'preference': 1, 'url': TEST_URL},
diff --git a/youtube_dl/YoutubeDL.py b/youtube_dl/YoutubeDL.py
index 0fdcf1b0b7..977141881b 100755
--- a/youtube_dl/YoutubeDL.py
+++ b/youtube_dl/YoutubeDL.py
@@ -64,7 +64,6 @@ from .utils import (
     sanitize_path,
     std_headers,
     subtitles_filename,
-    takewhile_inclusive,
     UnavailableVideoError,
     url_basename,
     version_tuple,
@@ -135,7 +134,6 @@ class YoutubeDL(object):
                        (or video) as a single JSON line.
     simulate:          Do not download the video files.
     format:            Video format code. See options.py for more information.
-    format_limit:      Highest quality format to try.
     outtmpl:           Template for output names.
     restrictfilenames: Do not allow "&" and spaces in file names
     ignoreerrors:      Do not stop on download errors.
@@ -1068,12 +1066,6 @@ class YoutubeDL(object):
             full_format_info.update(format)
             format['http_headers'] = self._calc_headers(full_format_info)
 
-        format_limit = self.params.get('format_limit', None)
-        if format_limit:
-            formats = list(takewhile_inclusive(
-                lambda f: f['format_id'] != format_limit, formats
-            ))
-
         # TODO Central sorting goes here
 
         if formats[0] is not info_dict:
diff --git a/youtube_dl/__init__.py b/youtube_dl/__init__.py
index d7759db682..c88489f298 100644
--- a/youtube_dl/__init__.py
+++ b/youtube_dl/__init__.py
@@ -283,7 +283,6 @@ def _real_main(argv=None):
         'simulate': opts.simulate or any_getting,
         'skip_download': opts.skip_download,
         'format': opts.format,
-        'format_limit': opts.format_limit,
         'listformats': opts.listformats,
         'outtmpl': outtmpl,
         'autonumber_size': opts.autonumber_size,
diff --git a/youtube_dl/options.py b/youtube_dl/options.py
index 39c38c9808..4c9d39d9a4 100644
--- a/youtube_dl/options.py
+++ b/youtube_dl/options.py
@@ -331,10 +331,6 @@ def parseOpts(overrideArguments=None):
         '--prefer-free-formats',
         action='store_true', dest='prefer_free_formats', default=False,
         help='Prefer free video formats unless a specific one is requested')
-    video_format.add_option(
-        '--max-quality',
-        action='store', dest='format_limit', metavar='FORMAT',
-        help='Highest quality format to download')
     video_format.add_option(
         '-F', '--list-formats',
         action='store_true', dest='listformats',
diff --git a/youtube_dl/utils.py b/youtube_dl/utils.py
index edeee1853e..c69d3e165f 100644
--- a/youtube_dl/utils.py
+++ b/youtube_dl/utils.py
@@ -1109,15 +1109,6 @@ def shell_quote(args):
     return ' '.join(quoted_args)
 
 
-def takewhile_inclusive(pred, seq):
-    """ Like itertools.takewhile, but include the latest evaluated element
-        (the first element so that Not pred(e)) """
-    for e in seq:
-        yield e
-        if not pred(e):
-            return
-
-
 def smuggle_url(url, data):
     """ Pass additional data in a URL for internal use. """