diff --git a/vm/words.cpp b/vm/words.cpp
index 68b6afd9d0..f3c511efe9 100644
--- a/vm/words.cpp
+++ b/vm/words.cpp
@@ -31,11 +31,6 @@ word *factorvm::allot_word(cell vocab_, cell name_)
 	return new_word.untagged();
 }
 
-word *allot_word(cell vocab_, cell name_)
-{
-	return vm->allot_word(vocab_,name_);
-}
-
 /* <word> ( name vocabulary -- word ) */
 inline void factorvm::vmprim_word()
 {
@@ -79,11 +74,6 @@ void factorvm::update_word_xt(cell w_)
 		w->xt = w->code->xt();
 }
 
-void update_word_xt(cell w_)
-{
-	return vm->update_word_xt(w_);
-}
-
 inline void factorvm::vmprim_optimized_p()
 {
 	drepl(tag_boolean(word_optimized_p(untag_check<word>(dpeek()))));
diff --git a/vm/words.hpp b/vm/words.hpp
index f9d5a7aff4..d3be2bde07 100644
--- a/vm/words.hpp
+++ b/vm/words.hpp
@@ -1,11 +1,8 @@
 namespace factor
 {
 
-word *allot_word(cell vocab, cell name);
-
 PRIMITIVE(word);
 PRIMITIVE(word_xt);
-void update_word_xt(cell word);
 
 inline bool word_optimized_p(word *word)
 {
@@ -13,7 +10,6 @@ inline bool word_optimized_p(word *word)
 }
 
 PRIMITIVE(optimized_p);
-
 PRIMITIVE(wrapper);
 
 }