diff --git a/common/lib/xmodule/xmodule/modulestore/django.py b/common/lib/xmodule/xmodule/modulestore/django.py
index cd69fb1c7a..47e12b3ed4 100644
--- a/common/lib/xmodule/xmodule/modulestore/django.py
+++ b/common/lib/xmodule/xmodule/modulestore/django.py
@@ -135,10 +135,6 @@ class ModuleI18nService(object):
         return strftime_localized(*args, **kwargs)
 
 
-# thread local cache
-_THREAD_CACHE = threading.local()
-
-
 def _get_modulestore_branch_setting():
     """
     Returns the branch setting for the module store from the current Django request if configured,
@@ -166,7 +162,6 @@ def _get_modulestore_branch_setting():
             branch = getattr(settings, 'MODULESTORE_BRANCH', None)
         return branch
 
-    # cache the branch setting for this thread so we don't have to recompute it each time
-    if not hasattr(_THREAD_CACHE, 'branch_setting'):
-        _THREAD_CACHE.branch_setting = get_branch_setting()
-    return _THREAD_CACHE.branch_setting
+    # leaving this in code structured in closure-friendly format b/c we might eventually cache this (again)
+    # using request_cache
+    return get_branch_setting()
diff --git a/lms/djangoapps/courseware/tests/test_courses.py b/lms/djangoapps/courseware/tests/test_courses.py
index ee4a88c47d..cd00abc120 100644
--- a/lms/djangoapps/courseware/tests/test_courses.py
+++ b/lms/djangoapps/courseware/tests/test_courses.py
@@ -47,16 +47,6 @@ class CoursesTest(ModuleStoreTestCase):
 
 class ModuleStoreBranchSettingTest(ModuleStoreTestCase):
     """Test methods related to the modulestore branch setting."""
-    def cleanup_branch_setting(self):
-        if hasattr(store_django._THREAD_CACHE, 'branch_setting'):
-            delattr(store_django._THREAD_CACHE, 'branch_setting')
-
-    def setUp(self):
-        self.cleanup_branch_setting()
-
-    def tearDown(self):
-        self.cleanup_branch_setting()
-
     @mock.patch(
         'xmodule.modulestore.django.get_current_request_hostname',
         mock.Mock(return_value='preview.localhost')