diff --git a/src/ID.cc b/src/ID.cc
index 95da8e6568..e39de42804 100644
--- a/src/ID.cc
+++ b/src/ID.cc
@@ -114,7 +114,6 @@ ID::ID(const char* arg_name, IDScope arg_scope, bool arg_is_export)
 	offset = 0;
 
 	infer_return_type = false;
-	weak_ref = false;
 
 	SetLocationInfo(&start_location, &end_location);
 	}
@@ -122,9 +121,6 @@ ID::ID(const char* arg_name, IDScope arg_scope, bool arg_is_export)
 ID::~ID()
 	{
 	delete [] name;
-
-	if ( weak_ref )
-		val.release();
 	}
 
 std::string ID::ModuleName() const
@@ -139,17 +135,12 @@ void ID::SetType(IntrusivePtr<BroType> t)
 
 void ID::ClearVal()
 	{
-	if ( weak_ref )
-		val.release();
+	val = nullptr;
 	}
 
-void ID::SetVal(IntrusivePtr<Val> v, bool arg_weak_ref)
+void ID::SetVal(IntrusivePtr<Val> v)
 	{
-	if ( weak_ref )
-		val.release();
-
 	val = std::move(v);
-	weak_ref = arg_weak_ref;
 	Modified();
 
 #ifdef DEBUG
diff --git a/src/ID.h b/src/ID.h
index efd3aa655a..a051a9a47c 100644
--- a/src/ID.h
+++ b/src/ID.h
@@ -67,15 +67,7 @@ public:
 
 	void MakeType()			{ is_type = true; }
 
-	// If weak_ref is false, the Val is assumed to be already ref'ed
-	// and will be deref'ed when the ID is deleted.
-	//
-	// If weak_ref is true, we store the Val but don't ref/deref it.
-	// That means that when the ID becomes the only one holding a
-	// reference to the Val, the Val will be destroyed (naturally,
-	// you have to take care that it will not be accessed via
-	// the ID afterwards).
-	void SetVal(IntrusivePtr<Val> v, bool weak_ref = false);
+	void SetVal(IntrusivePtr<Val> v);
 
 	void SetVal(IntrusivePtr<Val> v, init_class c);
 	void SetVal(IntrusivePtr<Expr> ev, init_class c);
@@ -153,7 +145,6 @@ protected:
 	IDScope scope;
 	bool is_export;
 	bool infer_return_type;
-	bool weak_ref;
 	IntrusivePtr<BroType> type;
 	bool is_const, is_enum_const, is_type, is_option;
 	int offset;