diff --git a/src/librustc/middle/dead.rs b/src/librustc/middle/dead.rs
index 0840495ff77..622bf4dd0bd 100644
--- a/src/librustc/middle/dead.rs
+++ b/src/librustc/middle/dead.rs
@@ -475,14 +475,13 @@ impl<'a, 'tcx> DeadVisitor<'a, 'tcx> {
         // This is done to handle the case where, for example, the static
         // method of a private type is used, but the type itself is never
         // called directly.
-        if let Some(impl_list) =
-                self.tcx.maps.inherent_impls.borrow().get(&self.tcx.hir.local_def_id(id)) {
-            for &impl_did in impl_list.iter() {
-                for &item_did in &self.tcx.associated_item_def_ids(impl_did)[..] {
-                    if let Some(item_node_id) = self.tcx.hir.as_local_node_id(item_did) {
-                        if self.live_symbols.contains(&item_node_id) {
-                            return true;
-                        }
+        let def_id = self.tcx.hir.local_def_id(id);
+        let inherent_impls = self.tcx.inherent_impls(def_id);
+        for &impl_did in inherent_impls.iter() {
+            for &item_did in &self.tcx.associated_item_def_ids(impl_did)[..] {
+                if let Some(item_node_id) = self.tcx.hir.as_local_node_id(item_did) {
+                    if self.live_symbols.contains(&item_node_id) {
+                        return true;
                     }
                 }
             }
diff --git a/src/librustc_metadata/encoder.rs b/src/librustc_metadata/encoder.rs
index 3676e5a7f0f..06df23f7cd0 100644
--- a/src/librustc_metadata/encoder.rs
+++ b/src/librustc_metadata/encoder.rs
@@ -626,14 +626,14 @@ impl<'a, 'b: 'a, 'tcx: 'b> EntryBuilder<'a, 'b, 'tcx> {
     // Encodes the inherent implementations of a structure, enumeration, or trait.
     fn encode_inherent_implementations(&mut self, def_id: DefId) -> LazySeq<DefIndex> {
         debug!("EntryBuilder::encode_inherent_implementations({:?})", def_id);
-        match self.tcx.maps.inherent_impls.borrow().get(&def_id) {
-            None => LazySeq::empty(),
-            Some(implementations) => {
-                self.lazy_seq(implementations.iter().map(|&def_id| {
-                    assert!(def_id.is_local());
-                    def_id.index
-                }))
-            }
+        let implementations = self.tcx.inherent_impls(def_id);
+        if implementations.is_empty() {
+            LazySeq::empty()
+        } else {
+            self.lazy_seq(implementations.iter().map(|&def_id| {
+                assert!(def_id.is_local());
+                def_id.index
+            }))
         }
     }
 
diff --git a/src/librustc_typeck/coherence/inherent_impls.rs b/src/librustc_typeck/coherence/inherent_impls.rs
index 400aaf82fe4..238952865c7 100644
--- a/src/librustc_typeck/coherence/inherent_impls.rs
+++ b/src/librustc_typeck/coherence/inherent_impls.rs
@@ -66,11 +66,15 @@ pub fn inherent_impls<'a, 'tcx>(tcx: TyCtxt<'a, 'tcx, 'tcx>,
     //
     // [the plan]: https://github.com/rust-lang/rust-roadmap/issues/4
 
+    thread_local! {
+        static EMPTY_DEF_ID_VEC: Rc<Vec<DefId>> = Rc::new(vec![])
+    }
+
     let result = tcx.dep_graph.with_ignore(|| {
         let crate_map = tcx.crate_inherent_impls(ty_def_id.krate);
         match crate_map.inherent_impls.get(&ty_def_id) {
             Some(v) => v.clone(),
-            None => Rc::new(vec![]),
+            None => EMPTY_DEF_ID_VEC.with(|v| v.clone())
         }
     });