diff --git a/build_runner_core/lib/src/generate/build_definition.dart b/build_runner_core/lib/src/generate/build_definition.dart
index 7d45498e74..4ba550a35d 100644
--- a/build_runner_core/lib/src/generate/build_definition.dart
+++ b/build_runner_core/lib/src/generate/build_definition.dart
@@ -29,9 +29,6 @@ class BuildDefinition {
   final AssetGraph assetGraph;
   final BuildScriptUpdates? buildScriptUpdates;
 
-  /// Whether this is a build starting from no previous state or outputs.
-  final bool cleanBuild;
-
   /// When reusing serialized state from a previous build: the file updates
   /// since that build.
   ///
@@ -39,12 +36,7 @@ class BuildDefinition {
   /// the current build having an incompatible change.
   final Map<AssetId, ChangeType>? updates;
 
-  BuildDefinition._(
-    this.assetGraph,
-    this.buildScriptUpdates,
-    this.cleanBuild,
-    this.updates,
-  );
+  BuildDefinition._(this.assetGraph, this.buildScriptUpdates, this.updates);
 
   static Future<BuildDefinition> prepareWorkspace({
     required PackageGraph packageGraph,
@@ -100,9 +92,7 @@ class _Loader {
 
     BuildScriptUpdates? buildScriptUpdates;
     Map<AssetId, ChangeType>? updates;
-    var cleanBuild = true;
     if (assetGraph != null) {
-      cleanBuild = false;
       buildLog.doing('Checking for updates.');
       updates = await _computeUpdates(
         assetGraph,
@@ -138,7 +128,6 @@ class _Loader {
         assetGraph = null;
         buildScriptUpdates = null;
         updates = null;
-        cleanBuild = true;
       }
     }
 
@@ -192,12 +181,7 @@ class _Loader {
       await _initialBuildCleanup(conflictingOutputs, writer);
     }
 
-    return BuildDefinition._(
-      assetGraph,
-      buildScriptUpdates,
-      cleanBuild,
-      updates,
-    );
+    return BuildDefinition._(assetGraph, buildScriptUpdates, updates);
   }
 
   /// Deletes the generated output directory.
diff --git a/build_runner_core/lib/src/generate/build_series.dart b/build_runner_core/lib/src/generate/build_series.dart
index 15cf2adf4a..91a2632e80 100644
--- a/build_runner_core/lib/src/generate/build_series.dart
+++ b/build_runner_core/lib/src/generate/build_series.dart
@@ -51,9 +51,6 @@ class BuildSeries {
   /// if the serialized build state was discarded.
   Map<AssetId, ChangeType>? updatesFromLoad;
 
-  /// Whether this is or was a build starting from no previous state or outputs.
-  final bool cleanBuild;
-
   /// Whether the next build is the first build.
   bool firstBuild = true;
 
@@ -64,7 +61,6 @@ class BuildSeries {
     this.assetGraph,
     this.buildScriptUpdates,
     this.finalizedReader,
-    this.cleanBuild,
     this.updatesFromLoad,
   ) : readerWriter = buildPlan.reader.copyWith(
         generatedAssetHider: assetGraph,
@@ -149,7 +145,6 @@ class BuildSeries {
       buildDefinition.assetGraph,
       buildDefinition.buildScriptUpdates,
       finalizedReader,
-      buildDefinition.cleanBuild,
       buildDefinition.updates,
     );
     return build;