diff --git a/src/librustc/ty/codec.rs b/src/librustc/ty/codec.rs
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..1c793920bf2
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/librustc/ty/codec.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,243 @@
+// Copyright 2017 The Rust Project Developers. See the COPYRIGHT
+// file at the top-level directory of this distribution and at
+// http://rust-lang.org/COPYRIGHT.
+//
+// Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 <LICENSE-APACHE or
+// http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0> or the MIT license
+// <LICENSE-MIT or http://opensource.org/licenses/MIT>, at your
+// option. This file may not be copied, modified, or distributed
+// except according to those terms.
+
+// This module contains some shared code for encoding and decoding various
+// things from the `ty` module, and in particular implements support for
+// "shorthands" which allow to have pointers back into the already encoded
+// stream instead of re-encoding the same thing twice.
+//
+// The functionality in here is shared between persisting to crate metadata and
+// persisting to incr. comp. caches.
+
+use hir::def_id::{DefId, CrateNum};
+use middle::const_val::ByteArray;
+use rustc_data_structures::fx::FxHashMap;
+use rustc_serialize::{Decodable, Decoder, Encoder, Encodable};
+use std::hash::Hash;
+use std::intrinsics;
+use ty::{self, Ty, TyCtxt};
+use ty::subst::Substs;
+
+/// The shorthand encoding uses an enum's variant index `usize`
+/// and is offset by this value so it never matches a real variant.
+/// This offset is also chosen so that the first byte is never < 0x80.
+pub const SHORTHAND_OFFSET: usize = 0x80;
+
+pub trait EncodableWithShorthand: Clone + Eq + Hash {
+    type Variant: Encodable;
+    fn variant(&self) -> &Self::Variant;
+}
+
+impl<'tcx> EncodableWithShorthand for Ty<'tcx> {
+    type Variant = ty::TypeVariants<'tcx>;
+    fn variant(&self) -> &Self::Variant {
+        &self.sty
+    }
+}
+
+impl<'tcx> EncodableWithShorthand for ty::Predicate<'tcx> {
+    type Variant = ty::Predicate<'tcx>;
+    fn variant(&self) -> &Self::Variant {
+        self
+    }
+}
+
+pub trait TyEncoder: Encoder {
+    fn position(&self) -> usize;
+}
+
+/// Encode the given value or a previously cached shorthand.
+pub fn encode_with_shorthand<E, T, M>(encoder: &mut E,
+                                      value: &T,
+                                      cache: M)
+                                      -> Result<(), E::Error>
+    where E: TyEncoder,
+          M: for<'b> Fn(&'b mut E) -> &'b mut FxHashMap<T, usize>,
+          T: EncodableWithShorthand,
+{
+    let existing_shorthand = cache(encoder).get(value).cloned();
+    if let Some(shorthand) = existing_shorthand {
+        return encoder.emit_usize(shorthand);
+    }
+
+    let variant = value.variant();
+
+    let start = encoder.position();
+    variant.encode(encoder)?;
+    let len = encoder.position() - start;
+
+    // The shorthand encoding uses the same usize as the
+    // discriminant, with an offset so they can't conflict.
+    let discriminant = unsafe { intrinsics::discriminant_value(variant) };
+    assert!(discriminant < SHORTHAND_OFFSET as u64);
+    let shorthand = start + SHORTHAND_OFFSET;
+
+    // Get the number of bits that leb128 could fit
+    // in the same space as the fully encoded type.
+    let leb128_bits = len * 7;
+
+    // Check that the shorthand is a not longer than the
+    // full encoding itself, i.e. it's an obvious win.
+    if leb128_bits >= 64 || (shorthand as u64) < (1 << leb128_bits) {
+        cache(encoder).insert(value.clone(), shorthand);
+    }
+
+    Ok(())
+}
+
+pub fn encode_predicates<'tcx, E, C>(encoder: &mut E,
+                                     predicates: &ty::GenericPredicates<'tcx>,
+                                     cache: C)
+                                     -> Result<(), E::Error>
+    where E: TyEncoder,
+          C: for<'b> Fn(&'b mut E) -> &'b mut FxHashMap<ty::Predicate<'tcx>, usize>,
+{
+    predicates.parent.encode(encoder)?;
+    predicates.predicates.len().encode(encoder)?;
+    for predicate in &predicates.predicates {
+        encode_with_shorthand(encoder, predicate, &cache)?
+    }
+    Ok(())
+}
+
+pub trait TyDecoder<'a, 'tcx: 'a>: Decoder {
+
+    fn tcx(&self) -> TyCtxt<'a, 'tcx, 'tcx>;
+
+    fn peek_byte(&self) -> u8;
+
+    fn cached_ty_for_shorthand<F>(&mut self,
+                                  shorthand: usize,
+                                  or_insert_with: F)
+                                  -> Result<Ty<'tcx>, Self::Error>
+        where F: FnOnce(&mut Self) -> Result<Ty<'tcx>, Self::Error>;
+
+    fn with_position<F, R>(&mut self, pos: usize, f: F) -> R
+        where F: FnOnce(&mut Self) -> R;
+
+    fn map_encoded_cnum_to_current(&self, cnum: CrateNum) -> CrateNum;
+
+    fn positioned_at_shorthand(&self) -> bool {
+        (self.peek_byte() & (SHORTHAND_OFFSET as u8)) != 0
+    }
+}
+
+pub fn decode_cnum<'a, 'tcx, D>(decoder: &mut D) -> Result<CrateNum, D::Error>
+    where D: TyDecoder<'a, 'tcx>,
+          'tcx: 'a,
+{
+    let cnum = CrateNum::from_u32(u32::decode(decoder)?);
+    Ok(decoder.map_encoded_cnum_to_current(cnum))
+}
+
+pub fn decode_ty<'a, 'tcx, D>(decoder: &mut D) -> Result<Ty<'tcx>, D::Error>
+    where D: TyDecoder<'a, 'tcx>,
+          'tcx: 'a,
+{
+    // Handle shorthands first, if we have an usize > 0x80.
+    // if self.opaque.data[self.opaque.position()] & 0x80 != 0 {
+    if decoder.positioned_at_shorthand() {
+        let pos = decoder.read_usize()?;
+        assert!(pos >= SHORTHAND_OFFSET);
+        let shorthand = pos - SHORTHAND_OFFSET;
+
+        decoder.cached_ty_for_shorthand(shorthand, |decoder| {
+            decoder.with_position(shorthand, Ty::decode)
+        })
+    } else {
+        let tcx = decoder.tcx();
+        Ok(tcx.mk_ty(ty::TypeVariants::decode(decoder)?))
+    }
+}
+
+pub fn decode_predicates<'a, 'tcx, D>(decoder: &mut D)
+                                      -> Result<ty::GenericPredicates<'tcx>, D::Error>
+    where D: TyDecoder<'a, 'tcx>,
+          'tcx: 'a,
+{
+    Ok(ty::GenericPredicates {
+        parent: Decodable::decode(decoder)?,
+        predicates: (0..decoder.read_usize()?).map(|_| {
+                // Handle shorthands first, if we have an usize > 0x80.
+                if decoder.positioned_at_shorthand() {
+                    let pos = decoder.read_usize()?;
+                    assert!(pos >= SHORTHAND_OFFSET);
+                    let shorthand = pos - SHORTHAND_OFFSET;
+
+                    decoder.with_position(shorthand, ty::Predicate::decode)
+                } else {
+                    ty::Predicate::decode(decoder)
+                }
+            })
+            .collect::<Result<Vec<_>, _>>()?,
+    })
+}
+
+pub fn decode_substs<'a, 'tcx, D>(decoder: &mut D) -> Result<&'tcx Substs<'tcx>, D::Error>
+    where D: TyDecoder<'a, 'tcx>,
+          'tcx: 'a,
+{
+    let len = decoder.read_usize()?;
+    let tcx = decoder.tcx();
+    Ok(tcx.mk_substs((0..len).map(|_| Decodable::decode(decoder)))?)
+}
+
+pub fn decode_region<'a, 'tcx, D>(decoder: &mut D) -> Result<ty::Region<'tcx>, D::Error>
+    where D: TyDecoder<'a, 'tcx>,
+          'tcx: 'a,
+{
+    Ok(decoder.tcx().mk_region(Decodable::decode(decoder)?))
+}
+
+pub fn decode_ty_slice<'a, 'tcx, D>(decoder: &mut D)
+                                    -> Result<&'tcx ty::Slice<Ty<'tcx>>, D::Error>
+    where D: TyDecoder<'a, 'tcx>,
+          'tcx: 'a,
+{
+    let len = decoder.read_usize()?;
+    Ok(decoder.tcx().mk_type_list((0..len).map(|_| Decodable::decode(decoder)))?)
+}
+
+pub fn decode_adt_def<'a, 'tcx, D>(decoder: &mut D)
+                                   -> Result<&'tcx ty::AdtDef, D::Error>
+    where D: TyDecoder<'a, 'tcx>,
+          'tcx: 'a,
+{
+    let def_id = DefId::decode(decoder)?;
+    Ok(decoder.tcx().adt_def(def_id))
+}
+
+pub fn decode_existential_predicate_slice<'a, 'tcx, D>(decoder: &mut D)
+    -> Result<&'tcx ty::Slice<ty::ExistentialPredicate<'tcx>>, D::Error>
+    where D: TyDecoder<'a, 'tcx>,
+          'tcx: 'a,
+{
+    let len = decoder.read_usize()?;
+    Ok(decoder.tcx()
+              .mk_existential_predicates((0..len).map(|_| Decodable::decode(decoder)))?)
+}
+
+pub fn decode_byte_array<'a, 'tcx, D>(decoder: &mut D)
+                                      -> Result<ByteArray<'tcx>, D::Error>
+    where D: TyDecoder<'a, 'tcx>,
+          'tcx: 'a,
+{
+    Ok(ByteArray {
+        data: decoder.tcx().alloc_byte_array(&Vec::decode(decoder)?)
+    })
+}
+
+pub fn decode_const<'a, 'tcx, D>(decoder: &mut D)
+                                 -> Result<&'tcx ty::Const<'tcx>, D::Error>
+    where D: TyDecoder<'a, 'tcx>,
+          'tcx: 'a,
+{
+    Ok(decoder.tcx().mk_const(Decodable::decode(decoder)?))
+}
diff --git a/src/librustc/ty/mod.rs b/src/librustc/ty/mod.rs
index 129c81c5cd6..99885e3e637 100644
--- a/src/librustc/ty/mod.rs
+++ b/src/librustc/ty/mod.rs
@@ -89,6 +89,7 @@ pub use self::maps::queries;
 pub mod adjustment;
 pub mod binding;
 pub mod cast;
+pub mod codec;
 pub mod error;
 mod erase_regions;
 pub mod fast_reject;
diff --git a/src/librustc_metadata/decoder.rs b/src/librustc_metadata/decoder.rs
index 65cf15e5a0e..fed0f526033 100644
--- a/src/librustc_metadata/decoder.rs
+++ b/src/librustc_metadata/decoder.rs
@@ -25,6 +25,7 @@ use rustc::ich::Fingerprint;
 use rustc::middle::lang_items;
 use rustc::session::Session;
 use rustc::ty::{self, Ty, TyCtxt};
+use rustc::ty::codec::{self as ty_codec, TyDecoder};
 use rustc::ty::subst::Substs;
 use rustc::util::nodemap::DefIdSet;
 
@@ -143,16 +144,6 @@ impl<'a, 'tcx> DecodeContext<'a, 'tcx> {
         self.cdata.expect("missing CrateMetadata in DecodeContext")
     }
 
-    fn with_position<F: FnOnce(&mut Self) -> R, R>(&mut self, pos: usize, f: F) -> R {
-        let new_opaque = opaque::Decoder::new(self.opaque.data, pos);
-        let old_opaque = mem::replace(&mut self.opaque, new_opaque);
-        let old_state = mem::replace(&mut self.lazy_state, LazyState::NoNode);
-        let r = f(self);
-        self.opaque = old_opaque;
-        self.lazy_state = old_state;
-        r
-    }
-
     fn read_lazy_distance(&mut self, min_size: usize) -> Result<usize, <Self as Decoder>::Error> {
         let distance = self.read_usize()?;
         let position = match self.lazy_state {
@@ -208,6 +199,60 @@ impl<'doc, 'tcx> Decoder for DecodeContext<'doc, 'tcx> {
     }
 }
 
+
+impl<'a, 'tcx: 'a> TyDecoder<'a, 'tcx> for DecodeContext<'a, 'tcx> {
+
+    fn tcx(&self) -> TyCtxt<'a, 'tcx, 'tcx> {
+        self.tcx.expect("missing TyCtxt in DecodeContext")
+    }
+
+    fn peek_byte(&self) -> u8 {
+        self.opaque.data[self.opaque.position()]
+    }
+
+    fn cached_ty_for_shorthand<F>(&mut self,
+                                  shorthand: usize,
+                                  or_insert_with: F)
+                                  -> Result<Ty<'tcx>, Self::Error>
+        where F: FnOnce(&mut Self) -> Result<Ty<'tcx>, Self::Error>
+    {
+        let tcx = self.tcx();
+
+        let key = ty::CReaderCacheKey {
+            cnum: self.cdata().cnum,
+            pos: shorthand,
+        };
+
+        if let Some(&ty) = tcx.rcache.borrow().get(&key) {
+            return Ok(ty);
+        }
+
+        let ty = or_insert_with(self)?;
+        tcx.rcache.borrow_mut().insert(key, ty);
+        Ok(ty)
+    }
+
+    fn with_position<F, R>(&mut self, pos: usize, f: F) -> R
+        where F: FnOnce(&mut Self) -> R
+    {
+        let new_opaque = opaque::Decoder::new(self.opaque.data, pos);
+        let old_opaque = mem::replace(&mut self.opaque, new_opaque);
+        let old_state = mem::replace(&mut self.lazy_state, LazyState::NoNode);
+        let r = f(self);
+        self.opaque = old_opaque;
+        self.lazy_state = old_state;
+        r
+    }
+
+    fn map_encoded_cnum_to_current(&self, cnum: CrateNum) -> CrateNum {
+        if cnum == LOCAL_CRATE {
+            self.cdata().cnum
+        } else {
+            self.cdata().cnum_map.borrow()[cnum]
+        }
+    }
+}
+
 impl<'a, 'tcx, T> SpecializedDecoder<Lazy<T>> for DecodeContext<'a, 'tcx> {
     fn specialized_decode(&mut self) -> Result<Lazy<T>, Self::Error> {
         Ok(Lazy::with_position(self.read_lazy_distance(Lazy::<T>::min_size())?))
@@ -302,73 +347,37 @@ impl<'a, 'tcx> SpecializedDecoder<Span> for DecodeContext<'a, 'tcx> {
 
 impl<'a, 'tcx> SpecializedDecoder<Ty<'tcx>> for DecodeContext<'a, 'tcx> {
     fn specialized_decode(&mut self) -> Result<Ty<'tcx>, Self::Error> {
-        let tcx = self.tcx();
-
-        // Handle shorthands first, if we have an usize > 0x80.
-        if self.opaque.data[self.opaque.position()] & 0x80 != 0 {
-            let pos = self.read_usize()?;
-            assert!(pos >= SHORTHAND_OFFSET);
-            let key = ty::CReaderCacheKey {
-                cnum: self.cdata().cnum,
-                pos: pos - SHORTHAND_OFFSET,
-            };
-            if let Some(ty) = tcx.rcache.borrow().get(&key).cloned() {
-                return Ok(ty);
-            }
-
-            let ty = self.with_position(key.pos, Ty::decode)?;
-            tcx.rcache.borrow_mut().insert(key, ty);
-            Ok(ty)
-        } else {
-            Ok(tcx.mk_ty(ty::TypeVariants::decode(self)?))
-        }
+        ty_codec::decode_ty(self)
     }
 }
 
-
 impl<'a, 'tcx> SpecializedDecoder<ty::GenericPredicates<'tcx>> for DecodeContext<'a, 'tcx> {
     fn specialized_decode(&mut self) -> Result<ty::GenericPredicates<'tcx>, Self::Error> {
-        Ok(ty::GenericPredicates {
-            parent: Decodable::decode(self)?,
-            predicates: (0..self.read_usize()?).map(|_| {
-                    // Handle shorthands first, if we have an usize > 0x80.
-                    if self.opaque.data[self.opaque.position()] & 0x80 != 0 {
-                        let pos = self.read_usize()?;
-                        assert!(pos >= SHORTHAND_OFFSET);
-                        let pos = pos - SHORTHAND_OFFSET;
-
-                        self.with_position(pos, ty::Predicate::decode)
-                    } else {
-                        ty::Predicate::decode(self)
-                    }
-                })
-                .collect::<Result<Vec<_>, _>>()?,
-        })
+        ty_codec::decode_predicates(self)
     }
 }
 
 impl<'a, 'tcx> SpecializedDecoder<&'tcx Substs<'tcx>> for DecodeContext<'a, 'tcx> {
     fn specialized_decode(&mut self) -> Result<&'tcx Substs<'tcx>, Self::Error> {
-        Ok(self.tcx().mk_substs((0..self.read_usize()?).map(|_| Decodable::decode(self)))?)
+        ty_codec::decode_substs(self)
     }
 }
 
 impl<'a, 'tcx> SpecializedDecoder<ty::Region<'tcx>> for DecodeContext<'a, 'tcx> {
     fn specialized_decode(&mut self) -> Result<ty::Region<'tcx>, Self::Error> {
-        Ok(self.tcx().mk_region(Decodable::decode(self)?))
+        ty_codec::decode_region(self)
     }
 }
 
 impl<'a, 'tcx> SpecializedDecoder<&'tcx ty::Slice<Ty<'tcx>>> for DecodeContext<'a, 'tcx> {
     fn specialized_decode(&mut self) -> Result<&'tcx ty::Slice<Ty<'tcx>>, Self::Error> {
-        Ok(self.tcx().mk_type_list((0..self.read_usize()?).map(|_| Decodable::decode(self)))?)
+        ty_codec::decode_ty_slice(self)
     }
 }
 
 impl<'a, 'tcx> SpecializedDecoder<&'tcx ty::AdtDef> for DecodeContext<'a, 'tcx> {
     fn specialized_decode(&mut self) -> Result<&'tcx ty::AdtDef, Self::Error> {
-        let def_id = DefId::decode(self)?;
-        Ok(self.tcx().adt_def(def_id))
+        ty_codec::decode_adt_def(self)
     }
 }
 
@@ -376,22 +385,19 @@ impl<'a, 'tcx> SpecializedDecoder<&'tcx ty::Slice<ty::ExistentialPredicate<'tcx>
     for DecodeContext<'a, 'tcx> {
     fn specialized_decode(&mut self)
         -> Result<&'tcx ty::Slice<ty::ExistentialPredicate<'tcx>>, Self::Error> {
-        Ok(self.tcx().mk_existential_predicates((0..self.read_usize()?)
-                                                .map(|_| Decodable::decode(self)))?)
+        ty_codec::decode_existential_predicate_slice(self)
     }
 }
 
 impl<'a, 'tcx> SpecializedDecoder<ByteArray<'tcx>> for DecodeContext<'a, 'tcx> {
     fn specialized_decode(&mut self) -> Result<ByteArray<'tcx>, Self::Error> {
-        Ok(ByteArray {
-            data: self.tcx().alloc_byte_array(&Vec::decode(self)?)
-        })
+        ty_codec::decode_byte_array(self)
     }
 }
 
 impl<'a, 'tcx> SpecializedDecoder<&'tcx ty::Const<'tcx>> for DecodeContext<'a, 'tcx> {
     fn specialized_decode(&mut self) -> Result<&'tcx ty::Const<'tcx>, Self::Error> {
-        Ok(self.tcx().mk_const(Decodable::decode(self)?))
+        ty_codec::decode_const(self)
     }
 }
 
diff --git a/src/librustc_metadata/encoder.rs b/src/librustc_metadata/encoder.rs
index 6b49be3e121..bf2c61c13c3 100644
--- a/src/librustc_metadata/encoder.rs
+++ b/src/librustc_metadata/encoder.rs
@@ -25,14 +25,13 @@ use rustc::middle::lang_items;
 use rustc::mir;
 use rustc::traits::specialization_graph;
 use rustc::ty::{self, Ty, TyCtxt, ReprOptions};
+use rustc::ty::codec::{self as ty_codec, TyEncoder};
 
 use rustc::session::config::{self, CrateTypeProcMacro};
 use rustc::util::nodemap::{FxHashMap, NodeSet};
 
 use rustc_serialize::{Encodable, Encoder, SpecializedEncoder, opaque};
 
-use std::hash::Hash;
-use std::intrinsics;
 use std::io::prelude::*;
 use std::io::Cursor;
 use std::path::Path;
@@ -119,7 +118,7 @@ impl<'a, 'tcx, T> SpecializedEncoder<LazySeq<T>> for EncodeContext<'a, 'tcx> {
 
 impl<'a, 'tcx> SpecializedEncoder<Ty<'tcx>> for EncodeContext<'a, 'tcx> {
     fn specialized_encode(&mut self, ty: &Ty<'tcx>) -> Result<(), Self::Error> {
-        self.encode_with_shorthand(ty, &ty.sty, |ecx| &mut ecx.type_shorthands)
+        ty_codec::encode_with_shorthand(self, ty, |ecx| &mut ecx.type_shorthands)
     }
 }
 
@@ -127,21 +126,18 @@ impl<'a, 'tcx> SpecializedEncoder<ty::GenericPredicates<'tcx>> for EncodeContext
     fn specialized_encode(&mut self,
                           predicates: &ty::GenericPredicates<'tcx>)
                           -> Result<(), Self::Error> {
-        predicates.parent.encode(self)?;
-        predicates.predicates.len().encode(self)?;
-        for predicate in &predicates.predicates {
-            self.encode_with_shorthand(predicate, predicate, |ecx| &mut ecx.predicate_shorthands)?
-        }
-        Ok(())
+        ty_codec::encode_predicates(self, predicates, |ecx| &mut ecx.predicate_shorthands)
+    }
+}
+
+impl<'a, 'tcx> TyEncoder for EncodeContext<'a, 'tcx> {
+    fn position(&self) -> usize {
+        self.opaque.position()
     }
 }
 
 impl<'a, 'tcx> EncodeContext<'a, 'tcx> {
 
-    pub fn position(&self) -> usize {
-        self.opaque.position()
-    }
-
     fn emit_node<F: FnOnce(&mut Self, usize) -> R, R>(&mut self, f: F) -> R {
         assert_eq!(self.lazy_state, LazyState::NoNode);
         let pos = self.position();
@@ -204,44 +200,6 @@ impl<'a, 'tcx> EncodeContext<'a, 'tcx> {
         })
     }
 
-    /// Encode the given value or a previously cached shorthand.
-    fn encode_with_shorthand<T, U, M>(&mut self,
-                                      value: &T,
-                                      variant: &U,
-                                      map: M)
-                                      -> Result<(), <Self as Encoder>::Error>
-        where M: for<'b> Fn(&'b mut Self) -> &'b mut FxHashMap<T, usize>,
-              T: Clone + Eq + Hash,
-              U: Encodable
-    {
-        let existing_shorthand = map(self).get(value).cloned();
-        if let Some(shorthand) = existing_shorthand {
-            return self.emit_usize(shorthand);
-        }
-
-        let start = self.position();
-        variant.encode(self)?;
-        let len = self.position() - start;
-
-        // The shorthand encoding uses the same usize as the
-        // discriminant, with an offset so they can't conflict.
-        let discriminant = unsafe { intrinsics::discriminant_value(variant) };
-        assert!(discriminant < SHORTHAND_OFFSET as u64);
-        let shorthand = start + SHORTHAND_OFFSET;
-
-        // Get the number of bits that leb128 could fit
-        // in the same space as the fully encoded type.
-        let leb128_bits = len * 7;
-
-        // Check that the shorthand is a not longer than the
-        // full encoding itself, i.e. it's an obvious win.
-        if leb128_bits >= 64 || (shorthand as u64) < (1 << leb128_bits) {
-            map(self).insert(value.clone(), shorthand);
-        }
-
-        Ok(())
-    }
-
     // Encodes something that corresponds to a single DepNode::GlobalMetaData
     // and registers the Fingerprint in the `metadata_hashes` map.
     pub fn tracked<'x, DATA, R>(&'x mut self,
diff --git a/src/librustc_metadata/lib.rs b/src/librustc_metadata/lib.rs
index 54dbb68667b..20bdfaea0d0 100644
--- a/src/librustc_metadata/lib.rs
+++ b/src/librustc_metadata/lib.rs
@@ -15,7 +15,6 @@
 
 #![feature(box_patterns)]
 #![feature(conservative_impl_trait)]
-#![feature(core_intrinsics)]
 #![feature(i128_type)]
 #![feature(proc_macro_internals)]
 #![feature(quote)]
diff --git a/src/librustc_metadata/schema.rs b/src/librustc_metadata/schema.rs
index dad0d26d271..e1d127d3516 100644
--- a/src/librustc_metadata/schema.rs
+++ b/src/librustc_metadata/schema.rs
@@ -53,11 +53,6 @@ pub const METADATA_VERSION: u8 = 4;
 pub const METADATA_HEADER: &'static [u8; 12] =
     &[0, 0, 0, 0, b'r', b'u', b's', b't', 0, 0, 0, METADATA_VERSION];
 
-/// The shorthand encoding uses an enum's variant index `usize`
-/// and is offset by this value so it never matches a real variant.
-/// This offset is also chosen so that the first byte is never < 0x80.
-pub const SHORTHAND_OFFSET: usize = 0x80;
-
 /// A value of type T referred to by its absolute position
 /// in the metadata, and which can be decoded lazily.
 ///