diff --git a/src/libstore/build/goal.hh b/src/libstore/build/goal.hh
index 7933fbc31..f808be160 100644
--- a/src/libstore/build/goal.hh
+++ b/src/libstore/build/goal.hh
@@ -21,7 +21,6 @@ class Worker;
  * A pointer to a goal.
  */
 typedef std::shared_ptr<Goal> GoalPtr;
-typedef std::weak_ptr<Goal> WeakGoalPtr;
 
 struct CompareGoalPtrs {
     bool operator() (const GoalPtr & a, const GoalPtr & b) const;
@@ -31,12 +30,6 @@ struct CompareGoalPtrs {
  * Set of goals.
  */
 typedef std::set<GoalPtr, CompareGoalPtrs> Goals;
-typedef std::set<WeakGoalPtr, std::owner_less<WeakGoalPtr>> WeakGoals;
-
-/**
- * A map of paths to goals (and the other way around).
- */
-typedef std::map<StorePath, WeakGoalPtr> WeakGoalMap;
 
 /**
  * Used as a hint to the worker on how to schedule a particular goal. For example,
diff --git a/src/libstore/build/worker.cc b/src/libstore/build/worker.cc
index 1b1bf1d5c..2894620a1 100644
--- a/src/libstore/build/worker.cc
+++ b/src/libstore/build/worker.cc
@@ -44,6 +44,7 @@ Worker::~Worker()
        are in trouble, since goals may call childTerminated() etc. in
        their destructors). */
     topGoals.clear();
+    awake.clear();
     children.clear();
 
     assert(expectedSubstitutions == 0);
@@ -310,12 +311,7 @@ std::vector<GoalPtr> Worker::run(std::function<Targets (GoalFactory &)> req)
         /* Call every wake goal (in the ordering established by
            CompareGoalPtrs). */
         while (!awake.empty() && !topGoals.empty()) {
-            Goals awake2;
-            for (auto & i : awake) {
-                GoalPtr goal = i.lock();
-                if (goal) awake2.insert(goal);
-            }
-            awake.clear();
+            Goals awake2 = std::move(awake);
             for (auto & goal : awake2) {
                 checkInterrupt();
                 auto result = goal->work();
diff --git a/src/libstore/build/worker.hh b/src/libstore/build/worker.hh
index 46adaa145..097e73cf7 100644
--- a/src/libstore/build/worker.hh
+++ b/src/libstore/build/worker.hh
@@ -84,9 +84,6 @@ private:
 
     bool running = false;
 
-    /* Note: the worker should only have strong pointers to the
-       top-level goals. */
-
     /**
      * The top-level goals of the worker.
      */
@@ -95,7 +92,7 @@ private:
     /**
      * Goals that are ready to do some work.
      */
-    WeakGoals awake;
+    Goals awake;
 
     template<typename G>
     struct CachedGoal