diff --git a/src/can/def.rs b/src/can/def.rs
index 2f8fdd16d1..5005e2585c 100644
--- a/src/can/def.rs
+++ b/src/can/def.rs
@@ -457,10 +457,8 @@ fn canonicalize_def<'a>(
             // implicitly, that is the case here too
             let mut fname = "invalid name".to_string();
 
-            if let (
-                &ast::Pattern::Identifier(ref name),
-                &Pattern::Identifier(_, ref defined_symbol),
-            ) = (&loc_pattern.value, &loc_can_pattern.value)
+            if let (&ast::Pattern::Identifier(ref name), &Pattern::Identifier(ref defined_symbol)) =
+                (&loc_pattern.value, &loc_can_pattern.value)
             {
                 fname = (*name).to_string();
                 env.tailcallable_symbol = Some(defined_symbol.clone());
@@ -531,7 +529,7 @@ fn canonicalize_def<'a>(
             // Only defs of the form (foo = ...) can be closure declarations or self tail calls.
             if let (
                 &ast::Pattern::Identifier(ref _name),
-                &Pattern::Identifier(_, ref defined_symbol),
+                &Pattern::Identifier(ref defined_symbol),
                 &Closure(ref symbol, _, ref arguments, ref body),
             ) = (
                 &loc_pattern.value,
@@ -675,7 +673,7 @@ fn canonicalize_def<'a>(
 
             if let (
                 &ast::Pattern::Identifier(ref _name),
-                &Pattern::Identifier(_, ref defined_symbol),
+                &Pattern::Identifier(ref defined_symbol),
             ) = (&loc_pattern.value, &loc_can_pattern.value)
             {
                 env.tailcallable_symbol = Some(defined_symbol.clone());
@@ -714,7 +712,7 @@ fn canonicalize_def<'a>(
             // Only defs of the form (foo = ...) can be closure declarations or self tail calls.
             if let (
                 &ast::Pattern::Identifier(ref _name),
-                &Pattern::Identifier(_, ref defined_symbol),
+                &Pattern::Identifier(ref defined_symbol),
                 &Closure(ref symbol, _, ref arguments, ref body),
             ) = (
                 &loc_pattern.value,
diff --git a/src/can/pattern.rs b/src/can/pattern.rs
index f5b7201bb8..b7902fe3ca 100644
--- a/src/can/pattern.rs
+++ b/src/can/pattern.rs
@@ -16,15 +16,15 @@ use im_rc::Vector;
 /// codegen can generate a runtime error if this pattern is reached.
 #[derive(Clone, Debug, PartialEq)]
 pub enum Pattern {
-    Identifier(Variable, Symbol),
+    Identifier(Symbol),
     Tag(Variable, Symbol),
     /// TODO replace regular Tag with this
     AppliedTag(Variable, Symbol, Vec<Located<Pattern>>),
     IntLiteral(i64),
     FloatLiteral(f64),
     ExactString(Box<str>),
-    EmptyRecordLiteral(Variable),
-    Underscore(Variable),
+    EmptyRecordLiteral,
+    Underscore,
 
     // Runtime Exceptions
     Shadowed(Located<Ident>),
@@ -40,7 +40,7 @@ pub fn symbols_from_pattern(pattern: &Pattern) -> Vec<Symbol> {
 }
 
 pub fn symbols_from_pattern_help(pattern: &Pattern, symbols: &mut Vec<Symbol>) {
-    if let Pattern::Identifier(_, symbol) = pattern {
+    if let Pattern::Identifier(symbol) = pattern {
         symbols.push(symbol.clone());
     }
 }
@@ -138,7 +138,7 @@ pub fn canonicalize_pattern<'a>(
                                 .insert(new_ident.clone(), symbol_and_region.clone());
                             shadowable_idents.insert(new_ident, symbol_and_region);
 
-                            Pattern::Identifier(var_store.fresh(), symbol)
+                            Pattern::Identifier(symbol)
                         }
                     }
                 }
@@ -169,7 +169,7 @@ pub fn canonicalize_pattern<'a>(
         },
 
         &Underscore => match pattern_type {
-            CaseBranch | FunctionArg => Pattern::Underscore(var_store.fresh()),
+            CaseBranch | FunctionArg => Pattern::Underscore,
             ptype @ Assignment | ptype @ TopLevelDef => unsupported_pattern(env, ptype, region),
         },
 
diff --git a/src/uniqueness/mod.rs b/src/uniqueness/mod.rs
index 14f6304cdd..8a77203683 100644
--- a/src/uniqueness/mod.rs
+++ b/src/uniqueness/mod.rs
@@ -68,7 +68,7 @@ fn canonicalize_pattern(
     use crate::types::PatternCategory;
 
     match &pattern.value {
-        Identifier(_, symbol) => {
+        Identifier(symbol) => {
             state.headers.insert(
                 symbol.clone(),
                 Located {
@@ -104,11 +104,11 @@ fn canonicalize_pattern(
             ));
         }
 
-        Tag(_, _) | AppliedTag(_, _, _) | EmptyRecordLiteral(_) => {
+        Tag(_, _) | AppliedTag(_, _, _) | EmptyRecordLiteral => {
             panic!("TODO add_constraints for {:?}", pattern);
         }
 
-        Underscore(_) | Shadowed(_) | UnsupportedPattern(_) => {
+        Underscore | Shadowed(_) | UnsupportedPattern(_) => {
             // no constraints
         }
     }
@@ -583,7 +583,7 @@ fn add_pattern_to_lookup_types(
     let region = loc_pattern.region;
 
     match loc_pattern.value {
-        Pattern::Identifier(_, symbol) => {
+        Pattern::Identifier(symbol) => {
             let loc_type = Located {
                 region,
                 value: expr_type,