diff --git a/src/Makefile b/src/Makefile
index e7f6f121f22..4f57354a755 100644
--- a/src/Makefile
+++ b/src/Makefile
@@ -16,11 +16,6 @@ ifneq ($(TOKUDB_REVISION),)
 CPPFLAGS += -DTOKUDB_REVISION=$(TOKUDB_REVISION)
 endif
 
-LOADER_USE_REFERENCE_MODEL=0
-ifeq ($(LOADER_USE_REFERENCE_MODEL),1)
-CPPFLAGS += -DLOADER_USE_REFERENCE_MODEL
-endif
-
 YDB=ydb.$(AEXT)
 YDB_BUNDLE=ydb.bundle
 TYDB=tydb.$(AEXT)
diff --git a/src/loader.c b/src/loader.c
index 480b9859cbc..eac2d75a13b 100644
--- a/src/loader.c
+++ b/src/loader.c
@@ -9,10 +9,6 @@
 
 /*
  *   The loader
- *
- *   (Once we have a functioning loader - currently defaults to reference model)
- *   If LOADER_USE_REFERENCE_MODEL is defined at compile time, a reference model is compiled
- *       $ make LOADER_USE_REFERENCE_MODEL=1 ...
  */
 
 #include <toku_portability.h>
@@ -184,9 +180,6 @@ int toku_loader_create_loader(DB_ENV *env,
     }
 
     // time to open the big kahuna
-#ifdef LOADER_USE_REFERENCE_MODEL
-    loader->i->loader_flags |= LOADER_USE_PUTS;
-#endif
     if ( loader->i->loader_flags & LOADER_USE_PUTS ) {
         XCALLOC_N(loader->i->N, loader->i->ekeys);
         XCALLOC_N(loader->i->N, loader->i->evals);