--- a/build-aux/postinstall.py
+++ b/build-aux/postinstall.py
@@ -8,18 +8,6 @@
 
 # Packaging tools define DESTDIR and this isn't needed for them
 if 'DESTDIR' not in os.environ:
-    print('Updating icon cache...')
-    icon_cache_dir = os.path.join(datadir, 'icons', 'hicolor')
-    if not os.path.exists(icon_cache_dir):
-        os.makedirs(icon_cache_dir)
-    subprocess.call(['gtk-update-icon-cache', '-qtf', icon_cache_dir])
-
-    print('Updating desktop database...')
-    desktop_database_dir = os.path.join(datadir, 'applications')
-    if not os.path.exists(desktop_database_dir):
-        os.makedirs(desktop_database_dir)
-    subprocess.call(['update-desktop-database', '-q', desktop_database_dir])
-
     print('Compiling GSettings schemas...')
     schemas_dir = os.path.join(datadir, 'glib-2.0', 'schemas')
     if not os.path.exists(schemas_dir):