diff --git a/src/kernel/declaration.h b/src/kernel/declaration.h
index d48cfd67c7..2fc3e82fc8 100644
--- a/src/kernel/declaration.h
+++ b/src/kernel/declaration.h
@@ -8,7 +8,6 @@ Author: Leonardo de Moura
 #include <algorithm>
 #include <string>
 #include <limits>
-#include "util/rc.h"
 #include "kernel/expr.h"
 
 namespace lean {
diff --git a/src/kernel/expr.h b/src/kernel/expr.h
index b7d5ed8c43..7b8f1c495d 100644
--- a/src/kernel/expr.h
+++ b/src/kernel/expr.h
@@ -15,7 +15,6 @@ Author: Leonardo de Moura
 #include "runtime/thread.h"
 #include "runtime/serializer.h"
 #include "runtime/hash.h"
-#include "util/rc.h"
 #include "util/name.h"
 #include "util/nat.h"
 #include "util/buffer.h"
diff --git a/src/kernel/level.cpp b/src/kernel/level.cpp
index ee18048d4f..0ccb3603c2 100644
--- a/src/kernel/level.cpp
+++ b/src/kernel/level.cpp
@@ -13,7 +13,6 @@ Author: Leonardo de Moura
 #include "runtime/hash.h"
 #include "util/safe_arith.h"
 #include "util/buffer.h"
-#include "util/rc.h"
 #include "util/list.h"
 #include "kernel/level.h"
 #include "kernel/environment.h"