diff --git a/common/docs/containers.conf.5.md b/common/docs/containers.conf.5.md
index c0d9d5489b..1ee6221a44 100644
--- a/common/docs/containers.conf.5.md
+++ b/common/docs/containers.conf.5.md
@@ -779,10 +779,6 @@ create new containers and pods in that namespace. The default namespace is "",
 which corresponds to no namespace. When no namespace is set, all containers
 and pods are visible.
 
-**network_cmd_path**=""
-
-Path to the slirp4netns binary.
-
 **network_cmd_options**=[]
 
 Default options to pass to the slirp4netns binary.
diff --git a/common/libnetwork/slirp4netns/slirp4netns.go b/common/libnetwork/slirp4netns/slirp4netns.go
index 083a4e5fcc..397f55f505 100644
--- a/common/libnetwork/slirp4netns/slirp4netns.go
+++ b/common/libnetwork/slirp4netns/slirp4netns.go
@@ -245,13 +245,10 @@ func createBasicSlirpCmdArgs(options *networkOptions, features *slirpFeatures) (
 // Setup can be called in rootful as well as in rootless.
 // Spawns the slirp4netns process and setup port forwarding if ports are given.
 func Setup(opts *SetupOptions) (*SetupResult, error) {
-	path := opts.Config.Engine.NetworkCmdPath
-	if path == "" {
-		var err error
-		path, err = opts.Config.FindHelperBinary(BinaryName, true)
-		if err != nil {
-			return nil, fmt.Errorf("could not find slirp4netns, the network namespace can't be configured: %w", err)
-		}
+	var err error
+	path, err := opts.Config.FindHelperBinary(BinaryName, true)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("could not find slirp4netns, the network namespace can't be configured: %w", err)
 	}
 
 	syncR, syncW, err := os.Pipe()
diff --git a/common/pkg/config/config.go b/common/pkg/config/config.go
index ae0587f7b7..51fa71056e 100644
--- a/common/pkg/config/config.go
+++ b/common/pkg/config/config.go
@@ -404,9 +404,6 @@ type EngineConfig struct {
 	// containers and pods will be visible. The default namespace is "".
 	Namespace string `toml:"namespace,omitempty"`
 
-	// NetworkCmdPath is the path to the slirp4netns binary.
-	NetworkCmdPath string `toml:"network_cmd_path,omitempty"`
-
 	// NetworkCmdOptions is the default options to pass to the slirp4netns binary.
 	// For example "allow_host_loopback=true"
 	NetworkCmdOptions attributedstring.Slice `toml:"network_cmd_options,omitempty"`
diff --git a/common/pkg/config/containers.conf b/common/pkg/config/containers.conf
index d89827d3f5..afd9ef72d4 100644
--- a/common/pkg/config/containers.conf
+++ b/common/pkg/config/containers.conf
@@ -670,10 +670,6 @@ default_sysctls = [
 #
 #namespace = ""
 
-# Path to the slirp4netns binary
-#
-#network_cmd_path = ""
-
 # Default options to pass to the slirp4netns binary.
 # Valid options values are:
 #
diff --git a/common/pkg/config/containers.conf-freebsd b/common/pkg/config/containers.conf-freebsd
index 6a8163066e..53894bb133 100644
--- a/common/pkg/config/containers.conf-freebsd
+++ b/common/pkg/config/containers.conf-freebsd
@@ -503,10 +503,6 @@ default_sysctls = [
 #
 #namespace = ""
 
-# Path to the slirp4netns binary
-#
-#network_cmd_path = ""
-
 # Default options to pass to the slirp4netns binary.
 # Valid options values are:
 #