diff --git a/README.mkd b/README.mkd
index 19bc556..810cf2d 100644
--- a/README.mkd
+++ b/README.mkd
@@ -290,19 +290,14 @@ Please note that vim-gitgutter won't override any colours or highlights you've s
 
 #### Sign column
 
-By default vim-gitgutter will make the sign column look like the line number column.
-
-To customise your sign column's background color, first tell vim-gitgutter to leave it alone:
+Set the `SignColumn` highlight group to change the sign column's colour.  For example:
 
 ```viml
-let g:gitgutter_override_sign_column_highlight = 0
-```
+" vim-gitgutter used to do this by default:
+highlight! link SignColumn LineNr
 
-And then either update your colorscheme's `SignColumn` highlight group or set it in your vimrc:
-
-```viml
-highlight SignColumn ctermbg=whatever    " terminal Vim
-highlight SignColumn guibg=whatever      " gVim/MacVim
+" or you could do this:
+highlight SignColumn guibg=whatever ctermbg=whatever
 ```
 
 By default the sign column will appear when there are signs to show and disappear when there aren't.  To always have the sign column, add to your vimrc:
diff --git a/autoload/gitgutter/highlight.vim b/autoload/gitgutter/highlight.vim
index bdac712..b2da79c 100644
--- a/autoload/gitgutter/highlight.vim
+++ b/autoload/gitgutter/highlight.vim
@@ -64,14 +64,6 @@ function! gitgutter#highlight#linenr_toggle() abort
 endfunction
 
 
-function! gitgutter#highlight#define_sign_column_highlight() abort
-  if g:gitgutter_override_sign_column_highlight
-    highlight! link SignColumn LineNr
-  else
-    highlight default link SignColumn LineNr
-  endif
-endfunction
-
 function! gitgutter#highlight#define_highlights() abort
   let [guibg, ctermbg] = s:get_background_colors('SignColumn')
 
diff --git a/doc/gitgutter.txt b/doc/gitgutter.txt
index 01e1365..a5c3576 100644
--- a/doc/gitgutter.txt
+++ b/doc/gitgutter.txt
@@ -306,7 +306,6 @@ Signs:~
     |g:gitgutter_sign_removed|
     |g:gitgutter_sign_removed_first_line|
     |g:gitgutter_sign_modified_removed|
-    |g:gitgutter_override_sign_column_highlight|
 
 Hunk previews:~
 
@@ -450,20 +449,6 @@ Defaults:
 You can use unicode characters but not images.  Signs must not take up more than
 2 columns.
 
-                                   *g:gitgutter_override_sign_column_highlight*
-Default: 1
-
-Controls whether to make the sign column look like the line-number column (i.e.
-the |hl-LineNr| highlight group).
-
-To customise your sign column's background color, first tell vim-gitgutter to
-leave it alone:
->
-    let g:gitgutter_override_sign_column_highlight = 0
-<
-
-And then either update your colorscheme's |hlSignColumn| highlight group or set
-it in your |vimrc|:
 
   Desired appearance                  Command ~
   Same as line-number column          highlight clear SignColumn
@@ -596,8 +581,11 @@ c. Why can't I unstage staged changes?
 d. Why are the colours in the sign column weird?
 
   Your colorscheme is configuring the |hl-SignColumn| highlight group weirdly.
-  Please see |g:gitgutter_override_sign_column_highlight| on customising the
-  sign column.
+  Here are two ways you could change the colours:
+>
+    highlight! link SignColumn LineNr
+    highlight SignColumn guibg=whatever ctermbg=whatever
+<
 
 e. What happens if I also use another plugin which uses signs (e.g. Syntastic)?
 
diff --git a/plugin/gitgutter.vim b/plugin/gitgutter.vim
index 1a24998..f4f48c2 100644
--- a/plugin/gitgutter.vim
+++ b/plugin/gitgutter.vim
@@ -22,6 +22,13 @@ function! s:set(var, default) abort
   endif
 endfunction
 
+function! s:obsolete(var)
+  if exists(a:var)
+    call gitgutter#utility#warn(a:var.' is obsolete and has no effect.')
+  endif
+endfunction
+
+
 call s:set('g:gitgutter_preview_win_location',     'bo')
 if exists('*nvim_open_win')
   call s:set('g:gitgutter_preview_win_floating', 1)
@@ -44,7 +51,7 @@ if (has('nvim-0.4.0') || exists('*sign_place')) && !exists('g:gitgutter_sign_all
   let g:gitgutter_sign_allow_clobber = 1
 endif
 call s:set('g:gitgutter_sign_allow_clobber',          0)
-call s:set('g:gitgutter_override_sign_column_highlight', 1)
+call s:obsolete('g:gitgutter_override_sign_column_highlight')
 call s:set('g:gitgutter_sign_added',                   '+')
 call s:set('g:gitgutter_sign_modified',                '~')
 call s:set('g:gitgutter_sign_removed',                 '_')
@@ -90,7 +97,6 @@ if !empty(g:gitgutter_grep)
   endif
 endif
 
-call gitgutter#highlight#define_sign_column_highlight()
 call gitgutter#highlight#define_highlights()
 call gitgutter#highlight#define_signs()
 
@@ -267,7 +273,7 @@ augroup gitgutter
     autocmd VimResume * call gitgutter#all(1)
   endif
 
-  autocmd ColorScheme * call gitgutter#highlight#define_sign_column_highlight() | call gitgutter#highlight#define_highlights()
+  autocmd ColorScheme * call gitgutter#highlight#define_highlights()
 
   " Disable during :vimgrep
   autocmd QuickFixCmdPre  *vimgrep* let g:gitgutter_enabled = 0