diff --git a/xmodule/x_module.py b/xmodule/x_module.py
index 88027f9a98..13f36c14f4 100644
--- a/xmodule/x_module.py
+++ b/xmodule/x_module.py
@@ -1668,7 +1668,6 @@ class ModuleSystem(MetricsMixin, ConfigurableFragmentWrapper, ModuleSystemShim,
         publish=None,
         course_id=None,
         error_descriptor_class=None,
-        field_data=None,
         **kwargs,
     ):
         """
@@ -1692,15 +1691,11 @@ class ModuleSystem(MetricsMixin, ConfigurableFragmentWrapper, ModuleSystemShim,
         publish(event) - A function that allows XModules to publish events (such as grade changes)
 
         error_descriptor_class - The class to use to render XModules with errors
-
-        field_data - the `FieldData` to use for backing XBlock storage.
         """
 
-        # Usage_store is unused, and field_data is often supplanted with an
-        # explicit field_data during construct_xblock.
         kwargs.setdefault('id_reader', getattr(descriptor_runtime, 'id_reader', OpaqueKeyReader()))
         kwargs.setdefault('id_generator', getattr(descriptor_runtime, 'id_generator', AsideKeyGenerator()))
-        super().__init__(field_data=field_data, **kwargs)
+        super().__init__(**kwargs)
 
         self.STATIC_URL = static_url
         self.track_function = track_function