diff --git a/basis/stack-checker/backend/backend.factor b/basis/stack-checker/backend/backend.factor
index e65c1f5aa3..19c2ac73af 100644
--- a/basis/stack-checker/backend/backend.factor
+++ b/basis/stack-checker/backend/backend.factor
@@ -157,9 +157,6 @@ M: object apply-object push-literal ;
         stack-visitor get
     ] with-scope ; inline
 
-: (infer) ( quot -- effect )
-    [ infer-quot-here ] with-infer drop ;
-
 : ?quotation-effect ( in -- effect/f )
     dup pair? [ second dup effect? [ drop f ] unless ] [ drop f ] if ;
 
diff --git a/basis/stack-checker/stack-checker.factor b/basis/stack-checker/stack-checker.factor
index 1bf75e7ec9..d3d1e4e66d 100644
--- a/basis/stack-checker/stack-checker.factor
+++ b/basis/stack-checker/stack-checker.factor
@@ -8,10 +8,8 @@ stack-checker.errors stack-checker.inlining
 stack-checker.visitor.dummy ;
 IN: stack-checker
 
-GENERIC: infer ( quot -- effect )
-
-M: callable infer ( quot -- effect )
-    (infer) ;
+: infer ( quot -- effect )
+    [ infer-quot-here ] with-infer drop ;
 
 : infer. ( quot -- )
     ! Safe to call from inference transforms.