diff --git a/src/Middleware/WebSockets/src/Microsoft.AspNetCore.WebSockets.csproj b/src/Middleware/WebSockets/src/Microsoft.AspNetCore.WebSockets.csproj
index e5ce34e74550..58c7524df4c2 100644
--- a/src/Middleware/WebSockets/src/Microsoft.AspNetCore.WebSockets.csproj
+++ b/src/Middleware/WebSockets/src/Microsoft.AspNetCore.WebSockets.csproj
@@ -13,7 +13,6 @@
 
   <ItemGroup>
     <Reference Include="Microsoft.AspNetCore.Http.Extensions" />
-    <Reference Include="Microsoft.AspNetCore.Server.Kestrel.Core" />
     <Reference Include="Microsoft.Extensions.Logging.Abstractions" />
     <Reference Include="Microsoft.Extensions.Options" />
   </ItemGroup>