diff --git a/edb/edgeql/compiler/options.py b/edb/edgeql/compiler/options.py
index a13e0ecf2d4c..d76c2171f7ec 100644
--- a/edb/edgeql/compiler/options.py
+++ b/edb/edgeql/compiler/options.py
@@ -82,11 +82,6 @@ class GlobalCompilerOptions:
     #: the query plan.
     is_explain: bool = False
 
-    #: Should type inheritance be expanded using CTEs.
-    #: When not explaining CTEs can be used to provide access to a type and its
-    #: descendents.
-    use_inheritance_ctes: bool = True
-
     #: The name that can be used in a "DML is disallowed in ..."
     #: error. When this is not None, any DML should cause an error.
     in_ddl_context_name: Optional[str] = None
diff --git a/edb/edgeql/compiler/typegen.py b/edb/edgeql/compiler/typegen.py
index 8751ae6a137d..e172a7647c1f 100644
--- a/edb/edgeql/compiler/typegen.py
+++ b/edb/edgeql/compiler/typegen.py
@@ -401,13 +401,7 @@ def type_to_typeref(
     include_children = (
         expr_type is s_types.ExprType.Update
         or expr_type is s_types.ExprType.Delete
-        or (
-            (
-                env.options.is_explain or
-                env.options.use_inheritance_ctes
-            )
-            and isinstance(t, s_objtypes.ObjectType)
-        )
+        or isinstance(t, s_objtypes.ObjectType)
     )
     include_ancestors = (
         expr_type is s_types.ExprType.Insert
diff --git a/edb/pgsql/compiler/__init__.py b/edb/pgsql/compiler/__init__.py
index 6f9895fec817..30ef1f09cfdc 100644
--- a/edb/pgsql/compiler/__init__.py
+++ b/edb/pgsql/compiler/__init__.py
@@ -67,7 +67,6 @@ def compile_ir_to_sql_tree(
     named_param_prefix: Optional[tuple[str, ...]] = None,
     expected_cardinality_one: bool = False,
     is_explain: bool = False,
-    use_inheritance_ctes: bool = False,
     external_rvars: Optional[
         Mapping[Tuple[irast.PathId, pgce.PathAspect], pgast.PathRangeVar]
     ] = None,
@@ -129,7 +128,6 @@ def compile_ir_to_sql_tree(
             ignore_object_shapes=ignore_shapes,
             explicit_top_cast=explicit_top_cast,
             is_explain=is_explain,
-            use_inheritance_ctes=use_inheritance_ctes,
             singleton_mode=singleton_mode,
             scope_tree_nodes=scope_tree_nodes,
             external_rvars=external_rvars,
diff --git a/edb/pgsql/compiler/context.py b/edb/pgsql/compiler/context.py
index 129ea620c852..ec50561b8c6b 100644
--- a/edb/pgsql/compiler/context.py
+++ b/edb/pgsql/compiler/context.py
@@ -549,7 +549,6 @@ def __init__(
         ignore_object_shapes: bool,
         singleton_mode: bool,
         is_explain: bool,
-        use_inheritance_ctes: bool,
         explicit_top_cast: Optional[irast.TypeRef],
         query_params: List[irast.Param],
         type_rewrites: Dict[RewriteKey, irast.Set],
@@ -569,7 +568,6 @@ def __init__(
         self.ignore_object_shapes = ignore_object_shapes
         self.singleton_mode = singleton_mode
         self.is_explain = is_explain
-        self.use_inheritance_ctes = use_inheritance_ctes
         self.explicit_top_cast = explicit_top_cast
         self.query_params = query_params
         self.type_rewrites = type_rewrites
diff --git a/edb/pgsql/compiler/relctx.py b/edb/pgsql/compiler/relctx.py
index dfeeff6eb572..fc742646287b 100644
--- a/edb/pgsql/compiler/relctx.py
+++ b/edb/pgsql/compiler/relctx.py
@@ -1655,7 +1655,7 @@ def range_for_material_objtype(
             # using a CTE. This allows postgres to actually give us back the
             # alias names that we use for relations, which we use to track which
             # parts of the query are being referred to.
-            not ctx.env.use_inheritance_ctes
+            ctx.env.is_explain
 
             # Don't use CTEs if there is no inheritance. (ie. There is only a
             # single material type)
@@ -2206,7 +2206,9 @@ def _range_for_component_ptrref(
     )
 
     if (
-        not ctx.env.use_inheritance_ctes
+        # If explaining, expand inheritance directly as a union of pointers.
+        # See range for typerefs for more information.
+        ctx.env.is_explain
 
         # Don't use CTEs if there is no inheritance. (ie. There is only a
         # single ptrref)
diff --git a/edb/server/compiler/compiler.py b/edb/server/compiler/compiler.py
index 39f23ef2774b..d717441ccf5a 100644
--- a/edb/server/compiler/compiler.py
+++ b/edb/server/compiler/compiler.py
@@ -1701,11 +1701,6 @@ def _get_compile_options(
         allow_user_specified_id=_get_config_val(
             ctx, 'allow_user_specified_id') or ctx.schema_reflection_mode,
         is_explain=is_explain,
-        use_inheritance_ctes=(
-            not is_explain
-            and not ctx.bootstrap_mode
-            and not ctx.schema_reflection_mode
-        ),
         testmode=_get_config_val(ctx, '__internal_testmode'),
         schema_reflection_mode=(
             ctx.schema_reflection_mode
@@ -1891,7 +1886,6 @@ def _compile_ql_query(
         output_format=_convert_format(ctx.output_format),
         backend_runtime_params=ctx.backend_runtime_params,
         is_explain=options.is_explain,
-        use_inheritance_ctes=options.use_inheritance_ctes,
         detach_params=(use_persistent_cache
                        and cache_mode is config.QueryCacheMode.PgFunc),
         versioned_stdlib=True,