diff --git a/server/Server.js b/server/Server.js
index 4a900a68..1f77e54a 100644
--- a/server/Server.js
+++ b/server/Server.js
@@ -119,7 +119,6 @@ class Server {
     await this.purgeMetadata() // Remove metadata folders without library item
     await this.playbackSessionManager.removeInvalidSessions()
     await this.cacheManager.ensureCachePaths()
-    await this.abMergeManager.ensureDownloadDirPath()
 
     await this.backupManager.init()
     await this.logManager.init()
diff --git a/server/managers/AbMergeManager.js b/server/managers/AbMergeManager.js
index 33a085b7..3480e529 100644
--- a/server/managers/AbMergeManager.js
+++ b/server/managers/AbMergeManager.js
@@ -15,8 +15,6 @@ class AbMergeManager {
     this.taskManager = taskManager
 
     this.itemsCacheDir = Path.join(global.MetadataPath, 'cache/items')
-    this.downloadDirPath = Path.join(global.MetadataPath, 'downloads')
-    this.downloadDirPathExist = false
 
     this.pendingTasks = []
   }
@@ -29,22 +27,6 @@ class AbMergeManager {
     return this.removeTask(task, true)
   }
 
-  async ensureDownloadDirPath() { // Creates download path if necessary and sets owner and permissions
-    if (this.downloadDirPathExist) return
-
-    var pathCreated = false
-    if (!(await fs.pathExists(this.downloadDirPath))) {
-      await fs.mkdir(this.downloadDirPath)
-      pathCreated = true
-    }
-
-    if (pathCreated) {
-      await filePerms.setDefault(this.downloadDirPath)
-    }
-
-    this.downloadDirPathExist = true
-  }
-
   async startAudiobookMerge(user, libraryItem, options = {}) {
     const task = new Task()