diff --git a/conda_build/post.py b/conda_build/post.py
index 05af50b24f..bef71e31af 100644
--- a/conda_build/post.py
+++ b/conda_build/post.py
@@ -624,18 +624,7 @@ def mk_relative_linux(f, prefix, rpaths=("lib",), method=None):
     for rpath in rpaths:
         if rpath != "":
             if not rpath.startswith("/"):
-                # IMHO utils.relative shouldn't exist, but I am too paranoid to remove
-                # it, so instead, make sure that what I think it should be replaced by
-                # gives the same result and assert if not. Yeah, I am a chicken.
-                rel_ours = normpath(utils.relative(f, rpath))
-                rel_stdlib = normpath(relpath(rpath, dirname(f)))
-                if not rel_ours == rel_stdlib:
-                    raise ValueError(
-                        "utils.relative {} and relpath {} disagree for {}, {}".format(
-                            rel_ours, rel_stdlib, f, rpath
-                        )
-                    )
-                rpath = "$ORIGIN/" + rel_stdlib
+                rpath = "$ORIGIN/" + normpath(relpath(rpath, dirname(f)))
             if rpath not in new:
                 new.append(rpath)
     rpath = ":".join(new)
diff --git a/conda_build/utils.py b/conda_build/utils.py
index f8606ffe9d..4f68a7f79e 100644
--- a/conda_build/utils.py
+++ b/conda_build/utils.py
@@ -38,6 +38,8 @@
 
 import libarchive
 
+from .deprecations import deprecated
+
 try:
     from json.decoder import JSONDecodeError
 except ImportError:
@@ -789,6 +791,11 @@ def get_conda_operation_locks(locking=True, bldpkgs_dirs=None, timeout=900):
     return locks
 
 
+@deprecated(
+    "3.28.0",
+    "4.0.0",
+    addendum="Use `os.path.relpath` or `pathlib.Path.relative_to` instead.",
+)
 def relative(f, d="lib"):
     assert not f.startswith("/"), f
     assert not d.startswith("/"), d
diff --git a/news/5042-deprecate-relative b/news/5042-deprecate-relative
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..2061f242b2
--- /dev/null
+++ b/news/5042-deprecate-relative
@@ -0,0 +1,19 @@
+### Enhancements
+
+* <news item>
+
+### Bug fixes
+
+* <news item>
+
+### Deprecations
+
+* Mark `conda_build.utils.relative` as pending deprecation. Use `os.path.relpath` or `pathlib.Path.relative_to` instead. (#5042)
+
+### Docs
+
+* <news item>
+
+### Other
+
+* <news item>