diff --git a/src/cmd/compile/fmt_test.go b/src/cmd/compile/fmt_test.go
index 89a5a68465..48999aec15 100644
--- a/src/cmd/compile/fmt_test.go
+++ b/src/cmd/compile/fmt_test.go
@@ -552,19 +552,15 @@ var knownFormats = map[string]string{
 	"*cmd/compile/internal/gc.Node %j":                "",
 	"*cmd/compile/internal/gc.Node %p":                "",
 	"*cmd/compile/internal/gc.Node %v":                "",
-	"*cmd/compile/internal/gc.Sym % v":                "",
 	"*cmd/compile/internal/gc.Sym %+v":                "",
 	"*cmd/compile/internal/gc.Sym %-v":                "",
 	"*cmd/compile/internal/gc.Sym %0S":                "",
 	"*cmd/compile/internal/gc.Sym %S":                 "",
 	"*cmd/compile/internal/gc.Sym %p":                 "",
 	"*cmd/compile/internal/gc.Sym %v":                 "",
-	"*cmd/compile/internal/gc.Type % -v":              "",
 	"*cmd/compile/internal/gc.Type %#v":               "",
 	"*cmd/compile/internal/gc.Type %+v":               "",
-	"*cmd/compile/internal/gc.Type %- v":              "",
 	"*cmd/compile/internal/gc.Type %-S":               "",
-	"*cmd/compile/internal/gc.Type %-v":               "",
 	"*cmd/compile/internal/gc.Type %0S":               "",
 	"*cmd/compile/internal/gc.Type %L":                "",
 	"*cmd/compile/internal/gc.Type %S":                "",
diff --git a/src/cmd/compile/internal/gc/fmt.go b/src/cmd/compile/internal/gc/fmt.go
index c65c382ae4..0563d88b49 100644
--- a/src/cmd/compile/internal/gc/fmt.go
+++ b/src/cmd/compile/internal/gc/fmt.go
@@ -17,6 +17,9 @@ import (
 // See the respective function's documentation for details.
 type FmtFlag int
 
+// TODO(gri) The ' ' flag is not used anymore in %-formats.
+//           Eliminate eventually.
+
 const ( //                                 fmt.Format flag/prec or verb
 	FmtLeft     FmtFlag = 1 << iota // '-'
 	FmtSharp                        // '#'
@@ -1556,6 +1559,7 @@ func (n *Node) nodedump(s fmt.State, flag FmtFlag) {
 	}
 }
 
+// "%S" suppresses qualifying with package
 func (s *Sym) Format(f fmt.State, verb rune) {
 	switch verb {
 	case 'v', 'S':
@@ -1570,7 +1574,7 @@ func (s *Sym) String() string {
 	return s.sconv(0)
 }
 
-// "%S" suppresses qualifying with package
+// See #16897 before changing the implementation of sconv.
 func (s *Sym) sconv(flag FmtFlag) string {
 	if flag&FmtLong != 0 {
 		panic("linksymfmt")
@@ -1671,6 +1675,9 @@ func Fldconv(f *Field, flag FmtFlag) string {
 	return str
 }
 
+// "%L"  print definition, not name
+// "%S"  omit 'func' and receiver from function types, short type names
+// "% v" package name, not prefix (FTypeId mode, sticky)
 func (t *Type) Format(s fmt.State, verb rune) {
 	switch verb {
 	case 'v', 'S', 'L':
@@ -1681,9 +1688,7 @@ func (t *Type) Format(s fmt.State, verb rune) {
 	}
 }
 
-// "%L"  print definition, not name
-// "%S"  omit 'func' and receiver from function types, short type names
-// "% v" package name, not prefix (FTypeId mode, sticky)
+// See #16897 before changing the implementation of tconv.
 func (t *Type) tconv(flag FmtFlag) string {
 	if t == nil {
 		return "<T>"
diff --git a/src/cmd/compile/internal/gc/subr.go b/src/cmd/compile/internal/gc/subr.go
index 409ea3da0b..fe8f820c5f 100644
--- a/src/cmd/compile/internal/gc/subr.go
+++ b/src/cmd/compile/internal/gc/subr.go
@@ -1147,10 +1147,11 @@ func syslook(name string) *Node {
 // typehash computes a hash value for type t to use in type switch
 // statements.
 func typehash(t *Type) uint32 {
-	// fmt.Sprintf("%- v", t) already contains all the necessary logic to generate
-	// a representation that completely describes the type, so using
+	// t.tconv(FmtLeft | FmtUnsigned) already contains all the necessary logic
+	// to generate a representation that completely describes the type, so using
 	// it here avoids duplicating that code.
-	p := fmt.Sprintf("%- v", t)
+	// See the comments in exprSwitch.checkDupCases.
+	p := t.tconv(FmtLeft | FmtUnsigned)
 
 	// Using MD5 is overkill, but reduces accidental collisions.
 	h := md5.Sum([]byte(p))
diff --git a/src/cmd/compile/internal/gc/swt.go b/src/cmd/compile/internal/gc/swt.go
index a5dda73225..bfe5c1fb23 100644
--- a/src/cmd/compile/internal/gc/swt.go
+++ b/src/cmd/compile/internal/gc/swt.go
@@ -4,10 +4,7 @@
 
 package gc
 
-import (
-	"fmt"
-	"sort"
-)
+import "sort"
 
 const (
 	// expression switch
@@ -647,9 +644,9 @@ func (s *exprSwitch) checkDupCases(cc []caseClause) {
 		}
 		n := c.node.Left
 		tv := typeVal{
-			// fmt.Sprintf("% -v", n.Type) here serves to completely describe the type.
+			// n.Type.tconv(FmtLeft | FmtUnsigned) here serves to completely describe the type.
 			// See the comments in func typehash.
-			typ: fmt.Sprintf("% -v", n.Type),
+			typ: n.Type.tconv(FmtLeft | FmtUnsigned),
 			val: n.Val().Interface(),
 		}
 		prev, dup := seen[tv]