diff --git a/src/commands.jl b/src/commands.jl
index 9c786f4988bc0..1a074e4a00ecd 100644
--- a/src/commands.jl
+++ b/src/commands.jl
@@ -298,19 +298,6 @@ function unwind_exception(frame::Frame, exc)
     rethrow(exc)
 end
 
-const always_run_recursive_interpret = Ref(false)
-function any_active_breakpoint()
-    for bp in _breakpoints
-        if bp.isactive && bp.condition !== always_false
-            return true
-        end
-    end
-    return break_on_error[]
-end
-function run_in_compiled()
-    return !any_active_breakpoint() && !always_run_recursive_interpret[]
-end
-
 """
     ret = debug_command(recurse, frame, cmd, rootistoplevel=false)
     ret = debug_command(frame, cmd, rootistoplevel=false)
@@ -332,7 +319,6 @@ or one of the 'advanced' commands
 `rootistoplevel` and `ret` are as described for [`JuliaInterpreter.maybe_reset_frame!`](@ref).
 """
 function debug_command(@nospecialize(recurse), frame::Frame, cmd::Symbol, rootistoplevel::Bool=false)
-    recurse = run_in_compiled() ? Compiled() : recurse
     istoplevel = rootistoplevel && frame.caller === nothing
     cmd0 = cmd
     if cmd == :si
diff --git a/test/debug.jl b/test/debug.jl
index 36daa686f52fb..548f9de531913 100644
--- a/test/debug.jl
+++ b/test/debug.jl
@@ -2,10 +2,6 @@ using JuliaInterpreter, Test
 using JuliaInterpreter: enter_call, enter_call_expr, get_return, @lookup
 using Base.Meta: isexpr
 
-# We want to test recursive interpretation
-JuliaInterpreter.always_run_recursive_interpret[] = true
-@test !JuliaInterpreter.run_in_compiled()
-
 const ALL_COMMANDS = (:n, :s, :c, :finish, :nc, :se, :si)
 
 function step_through_command(fr::Frame, cmd::Symbol)
@@ -354,18 +350,4 @@ struct B{T} end
         @test debug_command(frame, :c) === nothing
         @test get_return(frame) == sum(a)
     end
-
-    @testset "compiled mode when no breakpoints" begin
-        try 
-            JuliaInterpreter.always_run_recursive_interpret[] = false    
-            remove()
-            @test JuliaInterpreter.run_in_compiled()
-            fr = JuliaInterpreter.enter_call(sin, 2.0)
-            JuliaInterpreter.debug_command(fr, :c)
-            @test get_return(fr) == sin(2.0)
-        finally
-            JuliaInterpreter.always_run_recursive_interpret[] = true
-        end
-    end
-
 # end