diff --git a/src/librustc/hir/map/mod.rs b/src/librustc/hir/map/mod.rs
index 92f8c9249c84..f0eb580cfd57 100644
--- a/src/librustc/hir/map/mod.rs
+++ b/src/librustc/hir/map/mod.rs
@@ -196,7 +196,7 @@ pub struct Map<'ast> {
     /// plain old integers.
     map: RefCell<Vec<MapEntry<'ast>>>,
 
-    definitions: &'ast RefCell<Definitions>,
+    definitions: RefCell<Definitions>,
 }
 
 impl<'ast> Map<'ast> {
@@ -790,7 +790,7 @@ pub fn collect_definitions<'ast>(krate: &'ast ast::Crate) -> Definitions {
 }
 
 pub fn map_crate<'ast>(forest: &'ast mut Forest,
-                       definitions: &'ast RefCell<Definitions>)
+                       definitions: Definitions)
                        -> Map<'ast> {
     let mut collector = NodeCollector::root(&forest.krate);
     intravisit::walk_crate(&mut collector, &forest.krate);
@@ -816,7 +816,7 @@ pub fn map_crate<'ast>(forest: &'ast mut Forest,
         forest: forest,
         dep_graph: forest.dep_graph.clone(),
         map: RefCell::new(map),
-        definitions: definitions,
+        definitions: RefCell::new(definitions),
     }
 }
 
diff --git a/src/librustc_driver/driver.rs b/src/librustc_driver/driver.rs
index 3f9fa0a23c2d..a979410ca94d 100644
--- a/src/librustc_driver/driver.rs
+++ b/src/librustc_driver/driver.rs
@@ -165,7 +165,6 @@ pub fn compile_input(sess: &Session,
             syntax::ext::mtwt::clear_tables();
         }
 
-        let defs = &RefCell::new(defs);
         let arenas = ty::CtxtArenas::new();
 
         // Construct the HIR map
diff --git a/src/librustc_driver/test.rs b/src/librustc_driver/test.rs
index 59713c66afcb..270376bda766 100644
--- a/src/librustc_driver/test.rs
+++ b/src/librustc_driver/test.rs
@@ -29,7 +29,6 @@ use rustc_metadata::cstore::CStore;
 use rustc_metadata::creader::LocalCrateReader;
 use rustc::hir::map as hir_map;
 use rustc::session::{self, config};
-use std::cell::RefCell;
 use std::rc::Rc;
 use syntax::ast;
 use syntax::abi::Abi;
@@ -129,7 +128,6 @@ fn test_env<F>(source_string: &str,
                                   MakeGlobMap::No)
     };
 
-    let defs = &RefCell::new(defs);
     let arenas = ty::CtxtArenas::new();
     let ast_map = hir_map::map_crate(&mut hir_forest, defs);
 
diff --git a/src/librustdoc/core.rs b/src/librustdoc/core.rs
index 857a1176f496..e5919a4b35ff 100644
--- a/src/librustdoc/core.rs
+++ b/src/librustdoc/core.rs
@@ -162,7 +162,6 @@ pub fn run_core(search_paths: SearchPaths,
                                   resolve::MakeGlobMap::No)
     };
 
-    let defs = &RefCell::new(defs);
     let arenas = ty::CtxtArenas::new();
     let hir_map = hir_map::map_crate(&mut hir_forest, defs);
 
diff --git a/src/librustdoc/test.rs b/src/librustdoc/test.rs
index fc548924e296..c57452b6e2fc 100644
--- a/src/librustdoc/test.rs
+++ b/src/librustdoc/test.rs
@@ -95,7 +95,7 @@ pub fn run(input: &str,
         .expect("phase_2_configure_and_expand aborted in rustdoc!");
     let krate = driver::assign_node_ids(&sess, krate);
     let dep_graph = DepGraph::new(false);
-    let defs = &RefCell::new(hir_map::collect_definitions(&krate));
+    let defs = hir_map::collect_definitions(&krate);
 
     let mut dummy_resolver = DummyResolver;
     let lcx = LoweringContext::new(&sess, Some(&krate), &mut dummy_resolver);
diff --git a/src/test/run-make/execution-engine/test.rs b/src/test/run-make/execution-engine/test.rs
index 0d10f3155664..a2893fa2f0dc 100644
--- a/src/test/run-make/execution-engine/test.rs
+++ b/src/test/run-make/execution-engine/test.rs
@@ -20,7 +20,6 @@ extern crate rustc_metadata;
 extern crate rustc_resolve;
 #[macro_use] extern crate syntax;
 
-use std::cell::RefCell;
 use std::ffi::{CStr, CString};
 use std::mem::transmute;
 use std::path::PathBuf;
@@ -246,7 +245,6 @@ fn compile_program(input: &str, sysroot: PathBuf)
             driver::lower_and_resolve(&sess, &id, &mut defs, &krate, dep_graph, MakeGlobMap::No)
         };
 
-        let defs = &RefCell::new(defs);
         let arenas = ty::CtxtArenas::new();
         let ast_map = ast_map::map_crate(&mut hir_forest, defs);