diff --git a/src/passes/7-self_mini_c/helpers.ml b/src/passes/7-self_mini_c/helpers.ml
index 1c1116f4b..6b77cf2ee 100644
--- a/src/passes/7-self_mini_c/helpers.ml
+++ b/src/passes/7-self_mini_c/helpers.ml
@@ -80,10 +80,6 @@ let rec fold_expression : 'a folder -> 'a -> expression -> 'a result = fun f ini
       let%bind res = bind_fold_pair self init' ab in
       ok res
   )
-  | E_assignment (_, _, exp) -> (
-      let%bind res = self init' exp in
-      ok res
-  )
   | E_record_update (r, _, e) -> (
       let%bind res = self init' r in
       let%bind res = self res e in
@@ -150,10 +146,6 @@ let rec map_expression : mapper -> expression -> expression result = fun f e ->
       let%bind ab' = bind_map_pair self ab in
       return @@ E_sequence ab'
   )
-  | E_assignment (s, lrl, exp) -> (
-      let%bind exp' = self exp in
-      return @@ E_assignment (s, lrl, exp')
-  )
   | E_record_update (r, l, e) -> (
       let%bind r = self r in
       let%bind e = self e in
@@ -166,4 +158,4 @@ let map_sub_level_expression : mapper -> expression -> expression result = fun f
     let%bind body = map_expression f body in
     let content = E_closure {binder; body} in
     ok @@ { e with content }
-  | _ -> ok e
\ No newline at end of file
+  | _ -> ok e
diff --git a/src/passes/7-self_mini_c/self_mini_c.ml b/src/passes/7-self_mini_c/self_mini_c.ml
index 9a334951a..66a0a06b8 100644
--- a/src/passes/7-self_mini_c/self_mini_c.ml
+++ b/src/passes/7-self_mini_c/self_mini_c.ml
@@ -79,10 +79,6 @@ let rec is_pure : expression -> bool = fun e ->
      is near... *)
   | E_while _ -> false
 
-
-  (* definitely not pure *)
-  | E_assignment _ -> false
-
 let occurs_in : expression_variable -> expression -> bool =
   fun x e ->
   let fvs = Free_variables.expression [] e in
@@ -93,63 +89,6 @@ let occurs_count : expression_variable -> expression -> int =
   let fvs = Free_variables.expression [] e in
   Free_variables.mem_count x fvs
 
-(* If `ignore_lambdas` is true, ignore assignments which occur inside
-   lambdas, which have no effect on the value of the variable outside
-   of the lambda. *)
-let rec is_assigned : ignore_lambdas:bool -> expression_variable -> expression -> bool =
-  fun ~ignore_lambdas x e ->
-  let self = is_assigned ~ignore_lambdas x in
-  let selfs = List.exists self in
-  let it = Var.equal x in
-  let self_binder binder body =
-    if it binder
-    then false
-    else self body in
-  let self_binder2 binder1 binder2 body =
-    if it binder1 || it binder2
-    then false
-    else self body in
-  match e.content with
-  | E_assignment (x, _, e) ->
-    it x || self e
-  | E_record_update (r, _, e) ->
-    self r || self e
-  | E_closure { binder; body } ->
-    if ignore_lambdas
-    then false
-    else self_binder binder body
-  | E_constant (c) ->
-    selfs c.arguments
-  | E_application (f, arg) ->
-    selfs [ f ; arg ]
-  | E_iterator (_, ((x, _), e1), e2) ->
-    self_binder x e1 || self e2
-  | E_fold (((x, _), e1), e2, e3) ->
-    self_binder x e1 || selfs [ e2 ; e3 ]
-  | E_if_bool (e1, e2, e3) ->
-    selfs [ e1 ; e2 ; e3 ]
-  | E_if_none (e1, e2, ((x, _), e3)) ->
-    selfs [ e1 ; e2 ] || self_binder x e3
-  | E_if_cons (e1, e2, (((hd, _), (tl, _)), e3)) ->
-    selfs [ e1 ; e2 ] || self_binder2 hd tl e3
-  | E_if_left (e1, ((l, _), e2), ((r, _), e3)) ->
-    self e1 || self_binder l e2 || self_binder r e3
-  | E_let_in ((x, _), _, e1, e2) ->
-    self e1 || self_binder x e2
-  | E_sequence (e1, e2) ->
-    selfs [ e1 ; e2 ]
-  | E_while (e1, e2) ->
-    selfs [ e1 ; e2 ]
-  | E_literal _
-  | E_skip
-  | E_variable _
-  | E_make_empty_map _
-  | E_make_empty_big_map _
-  | E_make_empty_list _
-  | E_make_empty_set _
-  | E_make_none _ ->
-    false
-
 (* Let "inlining" mean transforming the code:
 
      let x = e1 in e2
@@ -163,25 +102,11 @@ let rec is_assigned : ignore_lambdas:bool -> expression_variable -> expression -
    Things which can go wrong for inlining:
 
    - If `e1` is not pure, inlining may fail to preserve semantics.
-   - If assignments to `x` occur in e2, inlining does not make sense.
-   - Free variables of `e1` may be assigned in e2, before usages of `x`.
    - Free variables of `e1` may be shadowed in e2, at usages of `x`. This
      is not a problem if the substitution is capture-avoiding.
    - ?
 *)
 
-let can_inline : expression_variable -> expression -> expression -> bool =
-  fun x e1 e2 ->
-  is_pure e1 &&
-  (* if x does not occur in e2, there can be no other problems:
-     substitution will be a noop up to alpha-equivalence *)
-  (not (occurs_in x e2) ||
-   (* else, must worry about assignment *)
-   (not (is_assigned ~ignore_lambdas:false x e2) &&
-    List.for_all
-      (fun y -> not (is_assigned ~ignore_lambdas:true y e2))
-      (Free_variables.expression [] e2)))
-
 let should_inline : expression_variable -> expression -> bool =
   fun x e ->
   occurs_count x e <= 1
@@ -190,10 +115,8 @@ let inline_let : bool ref -> expression -> expression =
   fun changed e ->
   match e.content with
   | E_let_in ((x, _a), should_inline_here, e1, e2) ->
-    if can_inline x e1 e2 && (should_inline_here || should_inline x e2)
+    if is_pure e1 && (should_inline_here || should_inline x e2)
     then
-      (* can raise Subst.Bad_argument, but should not happen, due to
-         can_inline *)
       let e2' = Subst.subst_expression ~body:e2 ~x:x ~expr:e1 in
       (changed := true ; e2')
     else
@@ -215,26 +138,15 @@ let inline_lets : bool ref -> expression -> expression =
 
    Things which can go wrong for beta reduction:
 
-   - If e1 contains (meaningful) assignments to free variables, semantics
-     will not be preserved.
-   - ?
+   - Nothing?
 *)
 
-let can_beta : anon_function -> bool =
-  fun lam ->
-  List.for_all
-    (fun x -> not (is_assigned ~ignore_lambdas:true x lam.body))
-    (Free_variables.lambda [] lam)
-
 let beta : bool ref -> expression -> expression =
   fun changed e ->
   match e.content with
   | E_application ({ content = E_closure { binder = x ; body = e1 } ; type_value = T_function (xtv, tv) }, e2) ->
-    if can_beta { binder = x ; body = e1 }
-    then
-      (changed := true ;
-       Expression.make (E_let_in ((x, xtv), false, e2, e1)) tv)
-    else e
+    (changed := true ;
+     Expression.make (E_let_in ((x, xtv), false, e2, e1)) tv)
 
   (* also do CAR (PAIR x y) ↦ x, or CDR (PAIR x y) ↦ y, only if x and y are pure *)
   | E_constant {cons_name = C_CAR| C_CDR as const; arguments = [ { content = E_constant {cons_name = C_PAIR; arguments = [ e1 ; e2 ]} ; type_value = _ } ]} ->
diff --git a/src/passes/7-self_mini_c/subst.ml b/src/passes/7-self_mini_c/subst.ml
index 0dd1b4f64..c2103c9f5 100644
--- a/src/passes/7-self_mini_c/subst.ml
+++ b/src/passes/7-self_mini_c/subst.ml
@@ -90,10 +90,6 @@ let rec replace : expression -> var_name -> var_name -> expression =
     let e1 = replace e1 in
     let e2 = replace e2 in
     return @@ E_sequence (e1, e2)
-  | E_assignment (v, path, e) ->
-    let v = replace_var v in
-    let e = replace e in
-    return @@ E_assignment (v, path, e)
   | E_record_update (r, p, e) ->
     let r = replace r in
     let e = replace e in
@@ -107,7 +103,6 @@ let rec replace : expression -> var_name -> var_name -> expression =
    Computes `body[x := expr]`.
    This raises Bad_argument in the case of assignments with a name clash. (`x <- 42[x := 23]` makes no sense.)
 **)
-exception Bad_argument
 let rec subst_expression : body:expression -> x:var_name -> expr:expression -> expression =
   fun ~body ~x ~expr ->
   let self body = subst_expression ~body ~x ~expr in
@@ -204,11 +199,6 @@ let rec subst_expression : body:expression -> x:var_name -> expr:expression -> e
       let ab' = Tuple.map2 self ab in
       return @@ E_sequence ab'
   )
-  | E_assignment (s, lrl, exp) -> (
-      let exp' = self exp in
-      if Var.equal s x then raise Bad_argument ;
-      return @@ E_assignment (s, lrl, exp')
-  )
   | E_record_update (r, p, e) -> (
     let r' = self r in
     let e' = self e in
diff --git a/src/passes/8-compiler/compiler_environment.ml b/src/passes/8-compiler/compiler_environment.ml
index 06cc467de..0736593ee 100644
--- a/src/passes/8-compiler/compiler_environment.ml
+++ b/src/passes/8-compiler/compiler_environment.ml
@@ -35,29 +35,6 @@ let get : environment -> expression_variable -> michelson result = fun e s ->
 
   ok code
 
-let set : environment -> expression_variable -> michelson result = fun e n ->
-  let%bind (_ , position) =
-    generic_try (simple_error "Environment.set") @@
-    (fun () -> Environment.get_i n e) in
-  let rec aux_bubble = fun n ->
-    match n with
-    | 0 -> dip i_drop
-    | n -> seq [
-        i_swap ;
-        dip (aux_bubble (n - 1)) ;
-      ]
-  in
-  let aux_dug = fun n -> seq [
-      dipn (n + 1) i_drop ;
-      i_dug n ;
-    ] in
-  let code =
-    if position < 2
-    then aux_bubble position
-    else aux_dug position in
-
-  ok code
-
 let pack_closure : environment -> selector -> michelson result = fun e lst ->
   let%bind () = Assert.assert_true (e <> []) in
 
diff --git a/src/passes/8-compiler/compiler_environment.mli b/src/passes/8-compiler/compiler_environment.mli
index 62bcf7b45..22801279d 100644
--- a/src/passes/8-compiler/compiler_environment.mli
+++ b/src/passes/8-compiler/compiler_environment.mli
@@ -8,7 +8,6 @@ module Stack = Meta_michelson.Stack
 *)
 val empty: environment
 val get : environment -> expression_variable -> michelson result
-val set : environment -> expression_variable -> michelson result
 
 val pack_closure : environment -> selector -> michelson result
 val unpack_closure : environment -> michelson result
diff --git a/src/passes/8-compiler/compiler_program.ml b/src/passes/8-compiler/compiler_program.ml
index a93b58299..74b3599c2 100644
--- a/src/passes/8-compiler/compiler_program.ml
+++ b/src/passes/8-compiler/compiler_program.ml
@@ -386,42 +386,6 @@ and translate_expression (expr:expression) (env:environment) : michelson result
         ] in
       ok code
     )
-  | E_assignment (name , lrs , expr) -> (
-      let%bind expr' = translate_expression expr env in
-      let%bind get_code = Compiler_environment.get env name in
-      let modify_code =
-        let aux acc step = match step with
-          | `Left -> seq [dip i_unpair ; acc ; i_pair]
-          | `Right -> seq [dip i_unpiar ; acc ; i_piar]
-        in
-        let init = dip i_drop in
-        List.fold_right' aux init lrs
-      in
-      let%bind set_code = Compiler_environment.set env name in
-      let error =
-        let title () = "michelson type-checking patch" in
-        let content () =
-          let aux ppf = function
-            | `Left -> Format.fprintf ppf "left"
-            | `Right -> Format.fprintf ppf "right" in
-          Format.asprintf "Sub path: %a\n"
-            PP_helpers.(list_sep aux (const " , ")) lrs
-        in
-        error title content in
-      trace error @@
-      return @@ seq [
-        i_comment "assign: start # env" ;
-        expr' ;
-        i_comment "assign: compute rhs # rhs : env" ;
-        dip get_code ;
-        i_comment "assign: get name # rhs : name : env" ;
-        modify_code ;
-        i_comment "assign: modify code # name+rhs : env" ;
-        set_code ;
-        i_comment "assign: set new # new_env" ;
-        i_push_unit ;
-      ]
-    )
   | E_record_update (record, path, expr) -> (
     let%bind record' = translate_expression record env in
 
diff --git a/src/stages/mini_c/PP.ml b/src/stages/mini_c/PP.ml
index 0fde6061c..9be2e37c3 100644
--- a/src/stages/mini_c/PP.ml
+++ b/src/stages/mini_c/PP.ml
@@ -104,8 +104,6 @@ and expression' ppf (e:expression') = match e with
   | E_fold (((name , _) , body) , collection , initial) ->
       fprintf ppf "fold %a on %a with %a do ( %a )" expression collection expression initial Var.pp name expression body
 
-  | E_assignment (r , path , e) ->
-      fprintf ppf "%a.%a := %a" Var.pp r (list_sep lr (const ".")) path expression e
   | E_record_update (r, path,update) ->
       fprintf ppf "%a with { %a = %a }" expression r (list_sep lr (const ".")) path expression update
   | E_while (e , b) ->
diff --git a/src/stages/mini_c/misc.ml b/src/stages/mini_c/misc.ml
index 6671af26f..31c816178 100644
--- a/src/stages/mini_c/misc.ml
+++ b/src/stages/mini_c/misc.ml
@@ -79,8 +79,6 @@ module Free_variables = struct
                expression (union (singleton v) b) body ;
              ]
     | E_sequence (x, y) -> union (self x) (self y)
-    (* NB different from ast_typed... *)
-    | E_assignment (v, _, e) -> unions [ var_name b v ; self e ]
     | E_record_update (r, _,e) -> union (self r) (self e)
     | E_while (cond , body) -> union (self cond) (self body)
 
diff --git a/src/stages/mini_c/types.ml b/src/stages/mini_c/types.ml
index f8d65759d..b1e419b8b 100644
--- a/src/stages/mini_c/types.ml
+++ b/src/stages/mini_c/types.ml
@@ -72,7 +72,6 @@ and expression' =
   | E_if_left of expression * ((var_name * type_value) * expression) * ((var_name * type_value) * expression)
   | E_let_in of ((var_name * type_value) * inline * expression * expression)
   | E_sequence of (expression * expression)
-  | E_assignment of (expression_variable * [`Left | `Right] list * expression)
   | E_record_update of (expression * [`Left | `Right] list * expression)
   | E_while of (expression * expression)