diff --git a/core/bootstrap/primitives.factor b/core/bootstrap/primitives.factor
index b9191ac612..87ed5ea529 100755
--- a/core/bootstrap/primitives.factor
+++ b/core/bootstrap/primitives.factor
@@ -33,7 +33,6 @@ H{ } clone sub-primitives set
 ! Bring up a bare cross-compiling vocabulary.
 "syntax" vocab vocab-words bootstrap-syntax set
 H{ } clone dictionary set
-H{ } clone new-classes set
 H{ } clone changed-definitions set
 H{ } clone forgotten-definitions set
 H{ } clone root-cache set
diff --git a/core/classes/classes.factor b/core/classes/classes.factor
index 64a8630f36..27205b487d 100755
--- a/core/classes/classes.factor
+++ b/core/classes/classes.factor
@@ -119,7 +119,7 @@ M: sequence implementors [ implementors ] gather ;
 
 : (define-class) ( word props -- )
     >r
-    dup class? [ dup [ implementors-map+ ] [ new-class ] bi ] unless
+    dup class? [ implementors-map+ ] unless
     dup reset-class
     dup deferred? [ dup define-symbol ] when
     dup props>>
diff --git a/core/classes/mixin/mixin.factor b/core/classes/mixin/mixin.factor
index 56ab6d37f1..3b12a277d7 100755
--- a/core/classes/mixin/mixin.factor
+++ b/core/classes/mixin/mixin.factor
@@ -39,11 +39,6 @@ TUPLE: check-mixin-class mixin ;
     [ [ members swap bootstrap-word ] dip call ] [ drop ] 2bi
     swap redefine-mixin-class ; inline
 
-: update-classes/new ( mixin -- )
-    class-usages
-    [ [ update-class ] each ]
-    [ implementors [ make-generic ] each ] bi ;
-
 : add-mixin-instance ( class mixin -- )
     #! Note: we call update-classes on the new member, not the
     #! mixin. This ensures that we only have to update the
@@ -53,12 +48,9 @@ TUPLE: check-mixin-class mixin ;
     #! updated by transitivity; the mixins usages appear in
     #! class-usages of the member, now that it's been added.
     [ 2drop ] [
-        [ [ suffix ] change-mixin-class ] 2keep
-        tuck [ new-class? ] either? [
-            update-classes/new
-        ] [
-            update-classes
-        ] if
+        [ [ suffix ] change-mixin-class ]
+        [ drop update-classes ]
+        2bi
     ] if-mixin-member? ;
 
 : remove-mixin-instance ( class mixin -- )
diff --git a/core/compiler/units/units.factor b/core/compiler/units/units.factor
index 1c1eaebc03..616d8c957a 100755
--- a/core/compiler/units/units.factor
+++ b/core/compiler/units/units.factor
@@ -94,7 +94,6 @@ SYMBOL: update-tuples-hook
     [
         H{ } clone changed-definitions set
         H{ } clone outdated-tuples set
-        H{ } clone new-classes set
         [ finish-compilation-unit ] [ ] cleanup
     ] with-scope ; inline
 
@@ -103,7 +102,6 @@ SYMBOL: update-tuples-hook
         H{ } clone changed-definitions set
         H{ } clone forgotten-definitions set
         H{ } clone outdated-tuples set
-        H{ } clone new-classes set
         <definitions> new-definitions set
         <definitions> old-definitions set
         [
diff --git a/core/definitions/definitions.factor b/core/definitions/definitions.factor
index 8b1cb6322d..affccd95fb 100755
--- a/core/definitions/definitions.factor
+++ b/core/definitions/definitions.factor
@@ -28,15 +28,6 @@ SYMBOL: +called+
     swap changed-definitions get
     [ set-at ] [ no-compilation-unit ] if* ;
 
-SYMBOL: new-classes
-
-: new-class ( word -- )
-    dup new-classes get
-    [ set-at ] [ no-compilation-unit ] if* ;
-
-: new-class? ( word -- ? )
-    new-classes get key? ;
-
 GENERIC: where ( defspec -- loc )
 
 M: object where drop f ;