diff --git a/xmodule/modulestore/mongo/base.py b/xmodule/modulestore/mongo/base.py
index 869d45cd15..863d009555 100644
--- a/xmodule/modulestore/mongo/base.py
+++ b/xmodule/modulestore/mongo/base.py
@@ -204,7 +204,6 @@ class CachingDescriptorSystem(MakoDescriptorSystem, EditInfoRuntimeMixin):  # li
         kwargs.setdefault('id_reader', id_manager)
         kwargs.setdefault('id_generator', id_manager)
         super().__init__(
-            field_data=None,
             load_item=self.load_item,
             **kwargs
         )
diff --git a/xmodule/modulestore/split_mongo/caching_descriptor_system.py b/xmodule/modulestore/split_mongo/caching_descriptor_system.py
index 6849cc2c68..f951e5b000 100644
--- a/xmodule/modulestore/split_mongo/caching_descriptor_system.py
+++ b/xmodule/modulestore/split_mongo/caching_descriptor_system.py
@@ -60,7 +60,6 @@ class CachingDescriptorSystem(MakoDescriptorSystem, EditInfoRuntimeMixin):  # li
         kwargs.setdefault('id_generator', id_manager)
 
         super().__init__(
-            field_data=None,
             load_item=self._load_item,
             resources_fs=OSFS(root),
             **kwargs