diff --git a/lms/startup.py b/lms/startup.py
index 2021db8e64..68f3095159 100644
--- a/lms/startup.py
+++ b/lms/startup.py
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@ settings.INSTALLED_APPS  # pylint: disable=W0104
 
 from django_startup import autostartup
 from xmodule.modulestore.django import modulestore
-import edxmako
+
 
 def run():
     """
@@ -50,7 +50,6 @@ def enable_theme():
     # Include the theme's templates in the template search paths
     settings.TEMPLATE_DIRS.append(theme_root / 'templates')
     settings.MAKO_TEMPLATES['main'].append(theme_root / 'templates')
-    edxmako.startup.run()
 
     # Namespace the theme's static files to 'themes/<theme_name>' to
     # avoid collisions with default edX static files
diff --git a/rakelib/assets.rake b/rakelib/assets.rake
index 940d5299b0..f0a854b114 100644
--- a/rakelib/assets.rake
+++ b/rakelib/assets.rake
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 # Theming constants
-USE_CUSTOM_THEME = ENV_TOKENS.has_key?('FEATURES') and ENV_TOKENS['FEATURES']['USE_CUSTOM_THEME']
+USE_CUSTOM_THEME = ENV_TOKENS['USE_CUSTOM_THEME']
 if USE_CUSTOM_THEME
     THEME_NAME = ENV_TOKENS['THEME_NAME']
     THEME_ROOT = File.join(ENV_ROOT, "themes", THEME_NAME)