diff --git a/scripts/postfixadmin-cli.php b/scripts/postfixadmin-cli.php
index 1241758e..be2f0c0b 100644
--- a/scripts/postfixadmin-cli.php
+++ b/scripts/postfixadmin-cli.php
@@ -210,8 +210,6 @@ class PostfixAdmin {
         # TODO: add a way to Cli* to signal if the selected handler is supported (for example, not all *Handler support changing the password)
 
         if (strtolower(get_parent_class($shell)) == 'shell') {
-            $shell->initialize();
-
             $handler = new $shell->handler_to_use;
             if (in_array($task, $handler->taskNames)) {
                 $this->shiftArgs();
@@ -243,7 +241,7 @@ class PostfixAdmin {
         }
 
         $protectedCommands = array(
-            'initialize', 'in', 'out', 'err', 'hr', 'log',
+            'in', 'out', 'err', 'hr', 'log',
             '__construct', 'dispatch', 'stdout', 'stderr'
         );
 
diff --git a/scripts/shells/shell.php b/scripts/shells/shell.php
index f4d19c37..a3f16bc5 100644
--- a/scripts/shells/shell.php
+++ b/scripts/shells/shell.php
@@ -110,15 +110,6 @@ class Shell {
         $this->Dispatch =& $dispatch;
     }
 
-    /**
-     * Initializes the Shell
-     * acts as constructor for subclasses
-     * allows configuration of tasks prior to shell execution
-     *
-     * @access public
-     */
-    public function initialize() {
-    }
     /**
      * Starts up the the Shell
      * allows for checking and configuring prior to command or main execution