diff --git a/gdb/aix-thread.c b/gdb/aix-thread.c
index f15845f7bf..0f0404f013 100644
--- a/gdb/aix-thread.c
+++ b/gdb/aix-thread.c
@@ -981,12 +981,12 @@ aix_thread_inferior_created (struct target_ops *ops, int from_tty)
 /* Detach from the process attached to by aix_thread_attach().  */
 
 static void
-aix_thread_detach (struct target_ops *ops, const char *args, int from_tty)
+aix_thread_detach (struct target_ops *ops, int from_tty)
 {
   struct target_ops *beneath = find_target_beneath (ops);
 
   pd_disable ();
-  beneath->to_detach (beneath, args, from_tty);
+  beneath->to_detach (beneath, from_tty);
 }
 
 /* Tell the inferior process to continue running thread PID if != -1
diff --git a/gdb/corefile.c b/gdb/corefile.c
index e39df42c63..c5e4f91a07 100644
--- a/gdb/corefile.c
+++ b/gdb/corefile.c
@@ -68,7 +68,7 @@ core_file_command (const char *filename, int from_tty)
   gdb_assert (core_target != NULL);
 
   if (!filename)
-    (core_target->to_detach) (core_target, filename, from_tty);
+    (core_target->to_detach) (core_target, from_tty);
   else
     (core_target->to_open) (filename, from_tty);
 }
diff --git a/gdb/corelow.c b/gdb/corelow.c
index 3a5256cb17..250f46aa05 100644
--- a/gdb/corelow.c
+++ b/gdb/corelow.c
@@ -464,10 +464,8 @@ core_open (const char *arg, int from_tty)
 }
 
 static void
-core_detach (struct target_ops *ops, const char *args, int from_tty)
+core_detach (struct target_ops *ops, int from_tty)
 {
-  if (args)
-    error (_("Too many arguments"));
   unpush_target (ops);
   reinit_frame_cache ();
   if (from_tty)
diff --git a/gdb/darwin-nat.c b/gdb/darwin-nat.c
index a51d8b11d6..1441a6ad6d 100644
--- a/gdb/darwin-nat.c
+++ b/gdb/darwin-nat.c
@@ -1938,7 +1938,7 @@ darwin_attach (struct target_ops *ops, const char *args, int from_tty)
    previously attached.  It *might* work if the program was
    started via fork.  */
 static void
-darwin_detach (struct target_ops *ops, const char *args, int from_tty)
+darwin_detach (struct target_ops *ops, int from_tty)
 {
   pid_t pid = ptid_get_pid (inferior_ptid);
   struct inferior *inf = current_inferior ();
diff --git a/gdb/gnu-nat.c b/gdb/gnu-nat.c
index f2d5fcaa50..0debb02ee6 100644
--- a/gdb/gnu-nat.c
+++ b/gdb/gnu-nat.c
@@ -2255,7 +2255,7 @@ gnu_attach (struct target_ops *ops, const char *args, int from_tty)
    previously attached.  It *might* work if the program was
    started via fork.  */
 static void
-gnu_detach (struct target_ops *ops, const char *args, int from_tty)
+gnu_detach (struct target_ops *ops, int from_tty)
 {
   int pid;
 
diff --git a/gdb/inf-ptrace.c b/gdb/inf-ptrace.c
index c91f15a345..44216c45d6 100644
--- a/gdb/inf-ptrace.c
+++ b/gdb/inf-ptrace.c
@@ -241,18 +241,14 @@ inf_ptrace_post_attach (struct target_ops *self, int pid)
 
 #endif
 
-/* Detach from the inferior, optionally passing it the signal
-   specified by ARGS.  If FROM_TTY is non-zero, be chatty about it.  */
+/* Detach from the inferior.  If FROM_TTY is non-zero, be chatty about it.  */
 
 static void
-inf_ptrace_detach (struct target_ops *ops, const char *args, int from_tty)
+inf_ptrace_detach (struct target_ops *ops, int from_tty)
 {
   pid_t pid = ptid_get_pid (inferior_ptid);
-  int sig = 0;
 
   target_announce_detach (from_tty);
-  if (args)
-    sig = atoi (args);
 
 #ifdef PT_DETACH
   /* We'd better not have left any breakpoints in the program or it'll
@@ -260,7 +256,7 @@ inf_ptrace_detach (struct target_ops *ops, const char *args, int from_tty)
      previously attached to the inferior.  It *might* work if we
      started the process ourselves.  */
   errno = 0;
-  ptrace (PT_DETACH, pid, (PTRACE_TYPE_ARG3)1, sig);
+  ptrace (PT_DETACH, pid, (PTRACE_TYPE_ARG3)1, 0);
   if (errno != 0)
     perror_with_name (("ptrace"));
 #else
diff --git a/gdb/infcmd.c b/gdb/infcmd.c
index 976276b694..8865244fd9 100644
--- a/gdb/infcmd.c
+++ b/gdb/infcmd.c
@@ -2976,7 +2976,7 @@ detach_command (const char *args, int from_tty)
 
   disconnect_tracing ();
 
-  target_detach (args, from_tty);
+  target_detach (from_tty);
 
   /* The current inferior process was just detached successfully.  Get
      rid of breakpoints that no longer make sense.  Note we don't do
diff --git a/gdb/infrun.c b/gdb/infrun.c
index e1d11234e0..d240208172 100644
--- a/gdb/infrun.c
+++ b/gdb/infrun.c
@@ -606,7 +606,7 @@ holding the child stopped.  Try \"set detach-on-fork\" or \
 				target_pid_to_str (process_ptid));
 	    }
 
-	  target_detach (NULL, 0);
+	  target_detach (0);
 	}
 
       /* Note that the detach above makes PARENT_INF dangling.  */
@@ -976,7 +976,7 @@ handle_vfork_child_exec_or_exit (int exec)
 		}
 	    }
 
-	  target_detach (NULL, 0);
+	  target_detach (0);
 
 	  /* Put it back.  */
 	  inf->pspace = pspace;
diff --git a/gdb/linux-fork.c b/gdb/linux-fork.c
index 3b0e41a43a..8561157d3d 100644
--- a/gdb/linux-fork.c
+++ b/gdb/linux-fork.c
@@ -407,7 +407,7 @@ linux_fork_mourn_inferior (void)
    the first available.  */
 
 void
-linux_fork_detach (const char *args, int from_tty)
+linux_fork_detach (int from_tty)
 {
   /* OK, inferior_ptid is the one we are detaching from.  We need to
      delete it from the fork_list, and switch to the next available
diff --git a/gdb/linux-fork.h b/gdb/linux-fork.h
index 2c4f530503..b1e3ba3e4a 100644
--- a/gdb/linux-fork.h
+++ b/gdb/linux-fork.h
@@ -22,6 +22,6 @@ extern struct fork_info *add_fork (pid_t);
 extern struct fork_info *find_fork_pid (pid_t);
 extern void linux_fork_killall (void);
 extern void linux_fork_mourn_inferior (void);
-extern void linux_fork_detach (const char *, int);
+extern void linux_fork_detach (int);
 extern int forks_exist_p (void);
 extern int linux_fork_checkpointing_p (int);
diff --git a/gdb/linux-nat.c b/gdb/linux-nat.c
index a47c49609b..99d12f2526 100644
--- a/gdb/linux-nat.c
+++ b/gdb/linux-nat.c
@@ -1497,7 +1497,7 @@ detach_callback (struct lwp_info *lp, void *data)
 }
 
 static void
-linux_nat_detach (struct target_ops *ops, const char *args, int from_tty)
+linux_nat_detach (struct target_ops *ops, int from_tty)
 {
   int pid;
   struct lwp_info *main_lwp;
@@ -1527,21 +1527,14 @@ linux_nat_detach (struct target_ops *ops, const char *args, int from_tty)
 	 from, but there are other viable forks to debug.  Detach from
 	 the current fork, and context-switch to the first
 	 available.  */
-      linux_fork_detach (args, from_tty);
+      linux_fork_detach (from_tty);
     }
   else
     {
-      int signo;
-
       target_announce_detach (from_tty);
 
-      /* Pass on any pending signal for the last LWP, unless the user
-	 requested detaching with a different signal (most likely 0,
-	 meaning, discard the signal).  */
-      if (args != NULL)
-	signo = atoi (args);
-      else
-	signo = get_detach_signal (main_lwp);
+      /* Pass on any pending signal for the last LWP.  */
+      int signo = get_detach_signal (main_lwp);
 
       detach_one_lwp (main_lwp, &signo);
 
diff --git a/gdb/linux-thread-db.c b/gdb/linux-thread-db.c
index 299c5ed34a..9dcfc0e98b 100644
--- a/gdb/linux-thread-db.c
+++ b/gdb/linux-thread-db.c
@@ -1090,13 +1090,13 @@ record_thread (struct thread_db_info *info,
 }
 
 static void
-thread_db_detach (struct target_ops *ops, const char *args, int from_tty)
+thread_db_detach (struct target_ops *ops, int from_tty)
 {
   struct target_ops *target_beneath = find_target_beneath (ops);
 
   delete_thread_db_info (ptid_get_pid (inferior_ptid));
 
-  target_beneath->to_detach (target_beneath, args, from_tty);
+  target_beneath->to_detach (target_beneath, from_tty);
 
   /* NOTE: From this point on, inferior_ptid is null_ptid.  */
 
diff --git a/gdb/nto-procfs.c b/gdb/nto-procfs.c
index eab96b940c..2fd2dcf79a 100644
--- a/gdb/nto-procfs.c
+++ b/gdb/nto-procfs.c
@@ -943,18 +943,14 @@ procfs_xfer_partial (struct target_ops *ops, enum target_object object,
    on signals, etc.  We'd better not have left any breakpoints
    in the program or it'll die when it hits one.  */
 static void
-procfs_detach (struct target_ops *ops, const char *args, int from_tty)
+procfs_detach (struct target_ops *ops, int from_tty)
 {
-  int siggnal = 0;
   int pid;
 
   target_announce_detach ();
 
-  if (args)
-    siggnal = atoi (args);
-
   if (siggnal)
-    SignalKill (nto_node (), ptid_get_pid (inferior_ptid), 0, siggnal, 0, 0);
+    SignalKill (nto_node (), ptid_get_pid (inferior_ptid), 0, 0, 0, 0);
 
   close (ctl_fd);
   ctl_fd = -1;
diff --git a/gdb/procfs.c b/gdb/procfs.c
index a939dedb00..491970a787 100644
--- a/gdb/procfs.c
+++ b/gdb/procfs.c
@@ -1829,7 +1829,7 @@ proc_iterate_over_threads (procinfo *pi,
    friends.  */
 
 static ptid_t do_attach (ptid_t ptid);
-static void do_detach (int signo);
+static void do_detach ();
 static void proc_trace_syscalls_1 (procinfo *pi, int syscallnum,
 				   int entry_or_exit, int mode, int from_tty);
 
@@ -1924,14 +1924,10 @@ procfs_attach (struct target_ops *ops, const char *args, int from_tty)
 }
 
 static void
-procfs_detach (struct target_ops *ops, const char *args, int from_tty)
+procfs_detach (struct target_ops *ops, int from_tty)
 {
-  int sig = 0;
   int pid = ptid_get_pid (inferior_ptid);
 
-  if (args)
-    sig = atoi (args);
-
   if (from_tty)
     {
       const char *exec_file;
@@ -1945,7 +1941,7 @@ procfs_detach (struct target_ops *ops, const char *args, int from_tty)
       gdb_flush (gdb_stdout);
     }
 
-  do_detach (sig);
+  do_detach ();
 
   inferior_ptid = null_ptid;
   detach_inferior (pid);
@@ -2023,16 +2019,13 @@ do_attach (ptid_t ptid)
 }
 
 static void
-do_detach (int signo)
+do_detach ()
 {
   procinfo *pi;
 
   /* Find procinfo for the main process.  */
   pi = find_procinfo_or_die (ptid_get_pid (inferior_ptid),
 			     0); /* FIXME: threads */
-  if (signo)
-    if (!proc_set_current_signal (pi, signo))
-      proc_warn (pi, "do_detach, set_current_signal", __LINE__);
 
   if (!proc_set_traced_signals (pi, &pi->saved_sigset))
     proc_warn (pi, "do_detach, set_traced_signal", __LINE__);
@@ -2049,15 +2042,15 @@ do_detach (int signo)
   if (!proc_set_held_signals (pi, &pi->saved_sighold))
     proc_warn (pi, "do_detach, set_held_signals", __LINE__);
 
-  if (signo || (proc_flags (pi) & (PR_STOPPED | PR_ISTOP)))
-    if (signo || !(pi->was_stopped) ||
-	query (_("Was stopped when attached, make it runnable again? ")))
+  if (proc_flags (pi) & (PR_STOPPED | PR_ISTOP))
+    if (!(pi->was_stopped)
+	|| query (_("Was stopped when attached, make it runnable again? ")))
       {
 	/* Clear any pending signal.  */
 	if (!proc_clear_current_fault (pi))
 	  proc_warn (pi, "do_detach, clear_current_fault", __LINE__);
 
-	if (signo == 0 && !proc_clear_current_signal (pi))
+	if (!proc_clear_current_signal (pi))
 	  proc_warn (pi, "do_detach, clear_current_signal", __LINE__);
 
 	if (!proc_set_run_on_last_close (pi))
diff --git a/gdb/record.c b/gdb/record.c
index 767b9f6afd..74a14dc07b 100644
--- a/gdb/record.c
+++ b/gdb/record.c
@@ -187,7 +187,7 @@ record_disconnect (struct target_ops *t, const char *args, int from_tty)
 /* See record.h.  */
 
 void
-record_detach (struct target_ops *t, const char *args, int from_tty)
+record_detach (struct target_ops *t, int from_tty)
 {
   gdb_assert (t->to_stratum == record_stratum);
 
@@ -196,7 +196,7 @@ record_detach (struct target_ops *t, const char *args, int from_tty)
   record_stop (t);
   record_unpush (t);
 
-  target_detach (args, from_tty);
+  target_detach (from_tty);
 }
 
 /* See record.h.  */
diff --git a/gdb/record.h b/gdb/record.h
index 8dae4c6775..a0ca84dff3 100644
--- a/gdb/record.h
+++ b/gdb/record.h
@@ -88,7 +88,7 @@ extern void record_goto (const char *arg);
 extern void record_disconnect (struct target_ops *, const char *, int);
 
 /* The default "to_detach" target method for record targets.  */
-extern void record_detach (struct target_ops *, const char *, int);
+extern void record_detach (struct target_ops *, int);
 
 /* The default "to_mourn_inferior" target method for record targets.  */
 extern void record_mourn_inferior (struct target_ops *);
diff --git a/gdb/remote-sim.c b/gdb/remote-sim.c
index fe36f10f52..edc70d5b3e 100644
--- a/gdb/remote-sim.c
+++ b/gdb/remote-sim.c
@@ -77,8 +77,7 @@ static void gdbsim_open (const char *args, int from_tty);
 
 static void gdbsim_close (struct target_ops *self);
 
-static void gdbsim_detach (struct target_ops *ops, const char *args,
-			   int from_tty);
+static void gdbsim_detach (struct target_ops *ops, int from_tty);
 
 static void gdbsim_prepare_to_store (struct target_ops *self,
 				     struct regcache *regcache);
@@ -815,17 +814,16 @@ gdbsim_close (struct target_ops *self)
 /* Takes a program previously attached to and detaches it.
    The program may resume execution (some targets do, some don't) and will
    no longer stop on signals, etc.  We better not have left any breakpoints
-   in the program or it'll die when it hits one.  ARGS is arguments
-   typed by the user (e.g. a signal to send the process).  FROM_TTY
-   says whether to be verbose or not.  */
+   in the program or it'll die when it hits one.  FROM_TTY says whether to be
+   verbose or not.  */
 /* Terminate the open connection to the remote debugger.
    Use this when you want to detach and do something else with your gdb.  */
 
 static void
-gdbsim_detach (struct target_ops *ops, const char *args, int from_tty)
+gdbsim_detach (struct target_ops *ops, int from_tty)
 {
   if (remote_debug)
-    fprintf_unfiltered (gdb_stdlog, "gdbsim_detach: args \"%s\"\n", args);
+    fprintf_unfiltered (gdb_stdlog, "gdbsim_detach\n");
 
   unpush_target (ops);		/* calls gdbsim_close to do the real work */
   if (from_tty)
diff --git a/gdb/remote.c b/gdb/remote.c
index a1cd9ae1df..01b236fcd3 100644
--- a/gdb/remote.c
+++ b/gdb/remote.c
@@ -5126,16 +5126,13 @@ remote_detach_pid (int pid)
    one.  */
 
 static void
-remote_detach_1 (const char *args, int from_tty)
+remote_detach_1 (int from_tty)
 {
   int pid = ptid_get_pid (inferior_ptid);
   struct remote_state *rs = get_remote_state ();
   struct thread_info *tp = find_thread_ptid (inferior_ptid);
   int is_fork_parent;
 
-  if (args)
-    error (_("Argument given to \"detach\" when remotely debugging."));
-
   if (!target_has_execution)
     error (_("No process to detach from."));
 
@@ -5165,15 +5162,15 @@ remote_detach_1 (const char *args, int from_tty)
 }
 
 static void
-remote_detach (struct target_ops *ops, const char *args, int from_tty)
+remote_detach (struct target_ops *ops, int from_tty)
 {
-  remote_detach_1 (args, from_tty);
+  remote_detach_1 (from_tty);
 }
 
 static void
-extended_remote_detach (struct target_ops *ops, const char *args, int from_tty)
+extended_remote_detach (struct target_ops *ops, int from_tty)
 {
-  remote_detach_1 (args, from_tty);
+  remote_detach_1 (from_tty);
 }
 
 /* Target follow-fork function for remote targets.  On entry, and
diff --git a/gdb/sol-thread.c b/gdb/sol-thread.c
index 7c08e39652..e724c7e0fa 100644
--- a/gdb/sol-thread.c
+++ b/gdb/sol-thread.c
@@ -348,14 +348,14 @@ lwp_to_thread (ptid_t lwp)
    program was started via the normal ptrace (PTRACE_TRACEME).  */
 
 static void
-sol_thread_detach (struct target_ops *ops, const char *args, int from_tty)
+sol_thread_detach (struct target_ops *ops, int from_tty)
 {
   struct target_ops *beneath = find_target_beneath (ops);
 
   sol_thread_active = 0;
   inferior_ptid = pid_to_ptid (ptid_get_pid (main_ph.ptid));
   unpush_target (ops);
-  beneath->to_detach (beneath, args, from_tty);
+  beneath->to_detach (beneath, from_tty);
 }
 
 /* Resume execution of process PTID.  If STEP is nozero, then just
diff --git a/gdb/target-delegates.c b/gdb/target-delegates.c
index aaf11d81b8..6bb7d7fba7 100644
--- a/gdb/target-delegates.c
+++ b/gdb/target-delegates.c
@@ -28,28 +28,26 @@ debug_post_attach (struct target_ops *self, int arg1)
 }
 
 static void
-delegate_detach (struct target_ops *self, const char *arg1, int arg2)
+delegate_detach (struct target_ops *self, int arg1)
 {
   self = self->beneath;
-  self->to_detach (self, arg1, arg2);
+  self->to_detach (self, arg1);
 }
 
 static void
-tdefault_detach (struct target_ops *self, const char *arg1, int arg2)
+tdefault_detach (struct target_ops *self, int arg1)
 {
 }
 
 static void
-debug_detach (struct target_ops *self, const char *arg1, int arg2)
+debug_detach (struct target_ops *self, int arg1)
 {
   fprintf_unfiltered (gdb_stdlog, "-> %s->to_detach (...)\n", debug_target.to_shortname);
-  debug_target.to_detach (&debug_target, arg1, arg2);
+  debug_target.to_detach (&debug_target, arg1);
   fprintf_unfiltered (gdb_stdlog, "<- %s->to_detach (", debug_target.to_shortname);
   target_debug_print_struct_target_ops_p (&debug_target);
   fputs_unfiltered (", ", gdb_stdlog);
-  target_debug_print_const_char_p (arg1);
-  fputs_unfiltered (", ", gdb_stdlog);
-  target_debug_print_int (arg2);
+  target_debug_print_int (arg1);
   fputs_unfiltered (")\n", gdb_stdlog);
 }
 
diff --git a/gdb/target.c b/gdb/target.c
index 748d5bb7a2..b01e1ac645 100644
--- a/gdb/target.c
+++ b/gdb/target.c
@@ -2108,7 +2108,7 @@ dispose_inferior (struct inferior *inf, void *args)
       if (target_has_execution)
 	target_kill ();
       else
-	target_detach (NULL, 0);
+	target_detach (0);
     }
 
   return 0;
@@ -2141,10 +2141,10 @@ target_preopen (int from_tty)
   target_pre_inferior (from_tty);
 }
 
-/* Detach a target after doing deferred register stores.  */
+/* See target.h.  */
 
 void
-target_detach (const char *args, int from_tty)
+target_detach (int from_tty)
 {
   if (gdbarch_has_global_breakpoints (target_gdbarch ()))
     /* Don't remove global breakpoints here.  They're removed on
@@ -2157,7 +2157,7 @@ target_detach (const char *args, int from_tty)
 
   prepare_for_detach ();
 
-  current_target.to_detach (&current_target, args, from_tty);
+  current_target.to_detach (&current_target, from_tty);
 }
 
 void
diff --git a/gdb/target.h b/gdb/target.h
index 4781fbc59c..51841a1cbb 100644
--- a/gdb/target.h
+++ b/gdb/target.h
@@ -440,7 +440,7 @@ struct target_ops
     void (*to_attach) (struct target_ops *ops, const char *, int);
     void (*to_post_attach) (struct target_ops *, int)
       TARGET_DEFAULT_IGNORE ();
-    void (*to_detach) (struct target_ops *ops, const char *, int)
+    void (*to_detach) (struct target_ops *ops, int)
       TARGET_DEFAULT_IGNORE ();
     void (*to_disconnect) (struct target_ops *, const char *, int)
       TARGET_DEFAULT_NORETURN (tcomplain ());
@@ -1323,11 +1323,10 @@ extern void target_announce_detach (int from_tty);
 /* Takes a program previously attached to and detaches it.
    The program may resume execution (some targets do, some don't) and will
    no longer stop on signals, etc.  We better not have left any breakpoints
-   in the program or it'll die when it hits one.  ARGS is arguments
-   typed by the user (e.g. a signal to send the process).  FROM_TTY
-   says whether to be verbose or not.  */
+   in the program or it'll die when it hits one.  FROM_TTY says whether to be
+   verbose or not.  */
 
-extern void target_detach (const char *, int);
+extern void target_detach (int from_tty);
 
 /* Disconnect from the current target without resuming it (leaving it
    waiting for a debugger).  */
diff --git a/gdb/top.c b/gdb/top.c
index 4749cf561d..1e6d5137b8 100644
--- a/gdb/top.c
+++ b/gdb/top.c
@@ -1461,7 +1461,6 @@ set_prompt (const char *s)
 
 struct qt_args
 {
-  char *args;
   int from_tty;
 };
 
@@ -1486,7 +1485,7 @@ kill_or_detach (struct inferior *inf, void *args)
       if (target_has_execution)
 	{
 	  if (inf->attach_flag)
-	    target_detach (qt->args, qt->from_tty);
+	    target_detach (qt->from_tty);
 	  else
 	    target_kill ();
 	}
@@ -1577,7 +1576,6 @@ quit_force (int *exit_arg, int from_tty)
   else if (return_child_result)
     exit_code = return_child_result_value;
 
-  qt.args = NULL;
   qt.from_tty = from_tty;
 
   /* We want to handle any quit errors and exit regardless.  */
diff --git a/gdb/windows-nat.c b/gdb/windows-nat.c
index 29b983296e..4023089a4d 100644
--- a/gdb/windows-nat.c
+++ b/gdb/windows-nat.c
@@ -1931,7 +1931,7 @@ windows_attach (struct target_ops *ops, const char *args, int from_tty)
 }
 
 static void
-windows_detach (struct target_ops *ops, const char *args, int from_tty)
+windows_detach (struct target_ops *ops, int from_tty)
 {
   int detached = 1;
 
