diff --git a/src/cmd/compile/internal/ir/name.go b/src/cmd/compile/internal/ir/name.go
index afee6e1308f..689ef983f61 100644
--- a/src/cmd/compile/internal/ir/name.go
+++ b/src/cmd/compile/internal/ir/name.go
@@ -147,12 +147,6 @@ func (n *Name) copy() Node                         { panic(n.no("copy")) }
 func (n *Name) doChildren(do func(Node) bool) bool { return false }
 func (n *Name) editChildren(edit func(Node) Node)  {}
 
-// CloneName makes a cloned copy of the name.
-// It's not ir.Copy(n) because in general that operation is a mistake on names,
-// which uniquely identify variables.
-// Callers must use n.CloneName to make clear they intend to create a separate name.
-func (n *Name) CloneName() *Name { c := *n; return &c }
-
 // TypeDefn returns the type definition for a named OTYPE.
 // That is, given "type T Defn", it returns Defn.
 // It is used by package types.
diff --git a/src/cmd/compile/internal/typecheck/syms.go b/src/cmd/compile/internal/typecheck/syms.go
index 2251062e16c..01c03b5f9f7 100644
--- a/src/cmd/compile/internal/typecheck/syms.go
+++ b/src/cmd/compile/internal/typecheck/syms.go
@@ -26,12 +26,12 @@ func LookupRuntime(name string) *ir.Name {
 // The result of SubstArgTypes MUST be assigned back to old, e.g.
 // 	n.Left = SubstArgTypes(n.Left, t1, t2)
 func SubstArgTypes(old *ir.Name, types_ ...*types.Type) *ir.Name {
-	n := old.CloneName()
-
 	for _, t := range types_ {
 		types.CalcSize(t)
 	}
-	n.SetType(types.SubstAny(n.Type(), &types_))
+	n := ir.NewNameAt(old.Pos(), old.Sym())
+	n.Class_ = old.Class()
+	n.SetType(types.SubstAny(old.Type(), &types_))
 	if len(types_) > 0 {
 		base.Fatalf("substArgTypes: too many argument types")
 	}