diff --git a/doc/source/launchers.rst b/doc/source/launchers.rst
index f368cb9..78d5839 100644
--- a/doc/source/launchers.rst
+++ b/doc/source/launchers.rst
@@ -362,24 +362,3 @@
 
 The original job is expected to complete with a WORK_DATA and
 WORK_FAIL packet as described in `Starting Builds`_.
-
-Build Descriptions
-^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
-
-In order to update the job running system with a description of the
-current state of all related builds, the job runner may optionally
-implement the following Gearman function:
-
-  set_description:MANAGER_NAME
-
-Where **MANAGER_NAME** is used as described in `Stopping Builds`_.
-The argument to the function is the following encoded in JSON format:
-
-**name**
-  The job name of the build to describe.
-
-**number**
-  The build number of the build to describe.
-
-**html_description**
-  The description of the build in HTML format.
diff --git a/tests/base.py b/tests/base.py
index 7fc828b..8017c51 100755
--- a/tests/base.py
+++ b/tests/base.py
@@ -546,7 +546,6 @@
         self.waiting = False
         self.aborted = False
         self.created = time.time()
-        self.description = ''
         self.run_error = False
 
     def release(self):
@@ -624,8 +623,7 @@
         self.worker.build_history.append(
             BuildHistory(name=self.name, number=self.number,
                          result=result, changes=changes, node=self.node,
-                         uuid=self.unique, description=self.description,
-                         parameters=self.parameters,
+                         uuid=self.unique, parameters=self.parameters,
                          pipeline=self.parameters['ZUUL_PIPELINE'])
         )
 
@@ -689,8 +687,6 @@
             self.handleLaunch(job)
         elif cmd == 'stop':
             self.handleStop(job)
-        elif cmd == 'set_description':
-            self.handleSetDescription(job)
 
     def handleLaunch(self, job):
         # TODOv3(jeblair): handle nodes
@@ -716,24 +712,6 @@
                 return
         job.sendWorkFail()
 
-    def handleSetDescription(self, job):
-        self.log.debug("handle set description")
-        parameters = json.loads(job.arguments)
-        name = parameters['name']
-        number = parameters['number']
-        descr = parameters['html_description']
-        for build in self.running_builds:
-            if build.name == name and build.number == number:
-                build.description = descr
-                job.sendWorkComplete()
-                return
-        for build in self.build_history:
-            if build.name == name and build.number == number:
-                build.description = descr
-                job.sendWorkComplete()
-                return
-        job.sendWorkFail()
-
     def work(self):
         while self.running:
             try:
diff --git a/tests/test_scheduler.py b/tests/test_scheduler.py
index 7649843..b32f368 100755
--- a/tests/test_scheduler.py
+++ b/tests/test_scheduler.py
@@ -2262,25 +2262,6 @@
                               self.connections)
 
     @skip("Disabled for early v3 development")
-    def test_build_description(self):
-        "Test that build descriptions update"
-        self.worker.registerFunction('set_description:' +
-                                     self.worker.worker_id)
-
-        A = self.fake_gerrit.addFakeChange('org/project', 'master', 'A')
-        A.addApproval('CRVW', 2)
-        self.fake_gerrit.addEvent(A.addApproval('APRV', 1))
-        self.waitUntilSettled()
-        desc = self.history[0].description
-        self.log.debug("Description: %s" % desc)
-        self.assertTrue(re.search("Branch.*master", desc))
-        self.assertTrue(re.search("Pipeline.*gate", desc))
-        self.assertTrue(re.search("project-merge.*SUCCESS", desc))
-        self.assertTrue(re.search("project-test1.*SUCCESS", desc))
-        self.assertTrue(re.search("project-test2.*SUCCESS", desc))
-        self.assertTrue(re.search("Reported result.*SUCCESS", desc))
-
-    @skip("Disabled for early v3 development")
     def test_queue_names(self):
         "Test shared change queue names"
         project1 = self.sched.layout.projects['org/project1']
diff --git a/zuul/launcher/client.py b/zuul/launcher/client.py
index 07a5e38..c2dd1d5 100644
--- a/zuul/launcher/client.py
+++ b/zuul/launcher/client.py
@@ -541,28 +541,6 @@
                                timeout=300)
         return True
 
-    def setBuildDescription(self, build, desc):
-        try:
-            name = "set_description:%s" % build.__gearman_manager
-        except AttributeError:
-            # We haven't yet received the first data packet that tells
-            # us where the job is running.
-            return False
-
-        if self.job_registration and not self.isJobRegistered(name):
-            return False
-
-        desc_uuid = str(uuid4().hex)
-        data = dict(name=build.job.name,
-                    number=build.number,
-                    html_description=desc)
-        desc_job = gear.Job(name, json.dumps(data), unique=desc_uuid)
-        self.meta_jobs[desc_uuid] = desc_job
-        self.log.debug("Submitting describe job: %s", desc_job)
-        self.gearman.submitJob(desc_job, precedence=gear.PRECEDENCE_LOW,
-                               timeout=300)
-        return True
-
     def lookForLostBuilds(self):
         self.log.debug("Looking for lost builds")
         for build in self.builds.values():
diff --git a/zuul/manager/__init__.py b/zuul/manager/__init__.py
index 68fbbe8..bc7b9d7 100644
--- a/zuul/manager/__init__.py
+++ b/zuul/manager/__init__.py
@@ -403,7 +403,6 @@
                                    "for change %s" % (build, item.change))
             build.result = 'CANCELED'
             canceled = True
-        self.updateBuildDescriptions(old_build_set)
         for item_behind in item.items_behind:
             self.log.debug("Canceling jobs for change %s, behind change %s" %
                            (item_behind.change, item.change))
@@ -584,26 +583,6 @@
                        (self.pipeline.name, changed))
         return changed
 
-    def updateBuildDescriptions(self, build_set):
-        for build in build_set.getBuilds():
-            try:
-                desc = self.formatDescription(build)
-                self.sched.launcher.setBuildDescription(build, desc)
-            except:
-                # Log the failure and let loop continue
-                self.log.error("Failed to update description for build %s" %
-                               (build))
-
-        if build_set.previous_build_set:
-            for build in build_set.previous_build_set.getBuilds():
-                try:
-                    desc = self.formatDescription(build)
-                    self.sched.launcher.setBuildDescription(build, desc)
-                except:
-                    # Log the failure and let loop continue
-                    self.log.error("Failed to update description for "
-                                   "build %s in previous build set" % (build))
-
     def onBuildStarted(self, build):
         self.log.debug("Build %s started" % build)
         return True
@@ -710,109 +689,6 @@
             except:
                 self.log.exception("Exception while reporting:")
                 item.setReportedResult('ERROR')
-        self.updateBuildDescriptions(item.current_build_set)
-        return ret
-
-    def formatDescription(self, build):
-        concurrent_changes = ''
-        concurrent_builds = ''
-        other_builds = ''
-
-        for change in build.build_set.other_changes:
-            concurrent_changes += '<li><a href="{change.url}">\
-              {change.number},{change.patchset}</a></li>'.format(
-                change=change)
-
-        change = build.build_set.item.change
-
-        for build in build.build_set.getBuilds():
-            if build.url:
-                concurrent_builds += """\
-<li>
-  <a href="{build.url}">
-  {build.job.name} #{build.number}</a>: {build.result}
-</li>
-""".format(build=build)
-            else:
-                concurrent_builds += """\
-<li>
-  {build.job.name}: {build.result}
-</li>""".format(build=build)
-
-        if build.build_set.previous_build_set:
-            other_build = build.build_set.previous_build_set.getBuild(
-                build.job.name)
-            if other_build:
-                other_builds += """\
-<li>
-  Preceded by: <a href="{build.url}">
-  {build.job.name} #{build.number}</a>
-</li>
-""".format(build=other_build)
-
-        if build.build_set.next_build_set:
-            other_build = build.build_set.next_build_set.getBuild(
-                build.job.name)
-            if other_build:
-                other_builds += """\
-<li>
-  Succeeded by: <a href="{build.url}">
-  {build.job.name} #{build.number}</a>
-</li>
-""".format(build=other_build)
-
-        result = build.build_set.result
-
-        if hasattr(change, 'number'):
-            ret = """\
-<p>
-  Triggered by change:
-    <a href="{change.url}">{change.number},{change.patchset}</a><br/>
-  Branch: <b>{change.branch}</b><br/>
-  Pipeline: <b>{self.pipeline.name}</b>
-</p>"""
-        elif hasattr(change, 'ref'):
-            ret = """\
-<p>
-  Triggered by reference:
-    {change.ref}</a><br/>
-  Old revision: <b>{change.oldrev}</b><br/>
-  New revision: <b>{change.newrev}</b><br/>
-  Pipeline: <b>{self.pipeline.name}</b>
-</p>"""
-        else:
-            ret = ""
-
-        if concurrent_changes:
-            ret += """\
-<p>
-  Other changes tested concurrently with this change:
-  <ul>{concurrent_changes}</ul>
-</p>
-"""
-        if concurrent_builds:
-            ret += """\
-<p>
-  All builds for this change set:
-  <ul>{concurrent_builds}</ul>
-</p>
-"""
-
-        if other_builds:
-            ret += """\
-<p>
-  Other build sets for this change:
-  <ul>{other_builds}</ul>
-</p>
-"""
-        if result:
-            ret += """\
-<p>
-  Reported result: <b>{result}</b>
-</p>
-"""
-
-        ret = ret.format(**locals())
         return ret
 
     def reportStats(self, item):