diff --git a/ironic/common/utils.py b/ironic/common/utils.py
index 51c56c1c02..0bf1be0962 100644
--- a/ironic/common/utils.py
+++ b/ironic/common/utils.py
@@ -135,18 +135,6 @@ def random_alnum(size=32):
     return ''.join(random.choice(characters) for _ in range(size))
 
 
-def delete_if_exists(pathname):
-    """delete a file, but ignore file not found error."""
-
-    try:
-        os.unlink(pathname)
-    except OSError as e:
-        if e.errno == errno.ENOENT:
-            return
-        else:
-            raise
-
-
 def is_valid_boolstr(val):
     """Check if the provided string is a valid bool string or not."""
     boolstrs = ('true', 'false', 'yes', 'no', 'y', 'n', '1', '0')
diff --git a/ironic/drivers/modules/console_utils.py b/ironic/drivers/modules/console_utils.py
index ffb22537f0..c8195ddf2b 100644
--- a/ironic/drivers/modules/console_utils.py
+++ b/ironic/drivers/modules/console_utils.py
@@ -29,11 +29,11 @@ import time
 from ironic_lib import utils as ironic_utils
 from oslo_log import log as logging
 from oslo_service import loopingcall
+from oslo_utils import fileutils
 from oslo_utils import netutils
 
 from ironic.common import exception
 from ironic.common.i18n import _, _LE, _LW
-from ironic.common import utils
 from ironic.conf import CONF
 
 
@@ -117,13 +117,13 @@ def make_persistent_password_file(path, password):
     """Writes a file containing a password until deleted."""
 
     try:
-        utils.delete_if_exists(path)
+        fileutils.delete_if_exists(path)
         with open(path, 'wb') as file:
             os.chmod(path, 0o600)
             file.write(password.encode())
         return path
     except Exception as e:
-        utils.delete_if_exists(path)
+        fileutils.delete_if_exists(path)
         raise exception.PasswordFileFailedToCreate(error=e)