diff --git a/x-pack/plugin/core/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/license/LicensedFeature.java b/x-pack/plugin/core/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/license/LicensedFeature.java
index 6f3e18c825d09..56c8e87d1c502 100644
--- a/x-pack/plugin/core/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/license/LicensedFeature.java
+++ b/x-pack/plugin/core/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/license/LicensedFeature.java
@@ -41,8 +41,8 @@ public boolean check(XPackLicenseState state) {
      * A Persistent feature is one that is tracked starting when the license is checked, and later may be untracked.
      */
     public static class Persistent extends LicensedFeature {
-        private Persistent(String family, String name, License.OperationMode minimumOperationMode, boolean needsActive) {
-            super(family, name, minimumOperationMode, needsActive);
+        private Persistent(String family, String name, License.OperationMode minimumOperationMode) {
+            super(family, name, minimumOperationMode, true);
         }
 
         /**
@@ -111,7 +111,7 @@ public static Momentary momentary(String family, String name, License.OperationM
 
     /** Create a persistent feature for the given license level */
     public static Persistent persistent(String family, String name, License.OperationMode licenseLevel) {
-        return new Persistent(family, name, licenseLevel, true);
+        return new Persistent(family, name, licenseLevel);
     }
 
     /**
@@ -123,15 +123,6 @@ public static Momentary momentaryLenient(String family, String name, License.Ope
         return new Momentary(family, name, licenseLevel, false);
     }
 
-    /**
-     * Creates a persistent feature, but one that is lenient as
-     * to whether the license needs to be active to allow the feature.
-     */
-    @Deprecated
-    public static Persistent persistentLenient(String family, String name, License.OperationMode licenseLevel) {
-        return new Persistent(family, name, licenseLevel, false);
-    }
-
     /**
      * Returns whether the feature is allowed by the current license
      * without affecting feature tracking.
diff --git a/x-pack/plugin/core/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/xpack/core/security/SecurityField.java b/x-pack/plugin/core/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/xpack/core/security/SecurityField.java
index fc1b42b984f5d..cd12fdcd79972 100644
--- a/x-pack/plugin/core/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/xpack/core/security/SecurityField.java
+++ b/x-pack/plugin/core/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/xpack/core/security/SecurityField.java
@@ -23,9 +23,9 @@ public final class SecurityField {
     // Document and Field Level Security are Platinum+
     private static final String DLS_FLS_FEATURE_FAMILY  = "security-dls-fls";
     public static final LicensedFeature.Momentary DOCUMENT_LEVEL_SECURITY_FEATURE =
-        LicensedFeature.momentaryLenient(DLS_FLS_FEATURE_FAMILY, "dls", License.OperationMode.PLATINUM);
+        LicensedFeature.momentary(DLS_FLS_FEATURE_FAMILY, "dls", License.OperationMode.PLATINUM);
     public static final LicensedFeature.Momentary FIELD_LEVEL_SECURITY_FEATURE =
-        LicensedFeature.momentaryLenient(DLS_FLS_FEATURE_FAMILY, "fls", License.OperationMode.PLATINUM);
+        LicensedFeature.momentary(DLS_FLS_FEATURE_FAMILY, "fls", License.OperationMode.PLATINUM);
 
 
     private SecurityField() {
diff --git a/x-pack/plugin/security/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/xpack/security/Security.java b/x-pack/plugin/security/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/xpack/security/Security.java
index cdf66d40bb444..ff2aeda081d00 100644
--- a/x-pack/plugin/security/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/xpack/security/Security.java
+++ b/x-pack/plugin/security/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/xpack/security/Security.java
@@ -359,29 +359,29 @@ public class Security extends Plugin implements SystemIndexPlugin, IngestPlugin,
     public static final LicensedFeature.Momentary IP_FILTERING_FEATURE =
         LicensedFeature.momentaryLenient(null, "security-ip-filtering", License.OperationMode.GOLD);
     public static final LicensedFeature.Momentary AUDITING_FEATURE =
-        LicensedFeature.momentaryLenient(null, "security-auditing", License.OperationMode.GOLD);
+        LicensedFeature.momentary(null, "security-auditing", License.OperationMode.GOLD);
     public static final LicensedFeature.Momentary TOKEN_SERVICE_FEATURE =
-        LicensedFeature.momentaryLenient(null, "security-token-service", License.OperationMode.STANDARD);
+        LicensedFeature.momentary(null, "security-token-service", License.OperationMode.STANDARD);
 
     private static final String REALMS_FEATURE_FAMILY = "security-realms";
     // Builtin realms (file/native) realms are Basic licensed, so don't need to be checked or tracked
     // Some realms (LDAP, AD, PKI) are Gold+
     public static final LicensedFeature.Persistent LDAP_REALM_FEATURE =
-        LicensedFeature.persistentLenient(REALMS_FEATURE_FAMILY, "ldap", License.OperationMode.GOLD);
+        LicensedFeature.persistent(REALMS_FEATURE_FAMILY, "ldap", License.OperationMode.GOLD);
     public static final LicensedFeature.Persistent AD_REALM_FEATURE =
-        LicensedFeature.persistentLenient(REALMS_FEATURE_FAMILY, "active-directory", License.OperationMode.GOLD);
+        LicensedFeature.persistent(REALMS_FEATURE_FAMILY, "active-directory", License.OperationMode.GOLD);
     public static final LicensedFeature.Persistent PKI_REALM_FEATURE =
-        LicensedFeature.persistentLenient(REALMS_FEATURE_FAMILY, "pki", License.OperationMode.GOLD);
+        LicensedFeature.persistent(REALMS_FEATURE_FAMILY, "pki", License.OperationMode.GOLD);
     // SSO realms are Platinum+
     public static final LicensedFeature.Persistent SAML_REALM_FEATURE =
-        LicensedFeature.persistentLenient(REALMS_FEATURE_FAMILY, "saml", License.OperationMode.PLATINUM);
+        LicensedFeature.persistent(REALMS_FEATURE_FAMILY, "saml", License.OperationMode.PLATINUM);
     public static final LicensedFeature.Persistent OIDC_REALM_FEATURE =
-        LicensedFeature.persistentLenient(REALMS_FEATURE_FAMILY, "oidc", License.OperationMode.PLATINUM);
+        LicensedFeature.persistent(REALMS_FEATURE_FAMILY, "oidc", License.OperationMode.PLATINUM);
     public static final LicensedFeature.Persistent KERBEROS_REALM_FEATURE =
-        LicensedFeature.persistentLenient(REALMS_FEATURE_FAMILY, "kerberos", License.OperationMode.PLATINUM);
+        LicensedFeature.persistent(REALMS_FEATURE_FAMILY, "kerberos", License.OperationMode.PLATINUM);
     // Custom realms are Platinum+
     public static final LicensedFeature.Persistent CUSTOM_REALMS_FEATURE =
-        LicensedFeature.persistentLenient(REALMS_FEATURE_FAMILY, "custom", License.OperationMode.PLATINUM);
+        LicensedFeature.persistent(REALMS_FEATURE_FAMILY, "custom", License.OperationMode.PLATINUM);
 
     public static final LicensedFeature.Momentary DELEGATED_AUTHORIZATION_FEATURE =
         LicensedFeature.momentary(null, "security-delegated-authorization", License.OperationMode.PLATINUM);