diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 0d2a87a..584f298 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -90,7 +90,6 @@
   - [Events](#events)
     - [`opening`](#opening)
     - [`open`](#open)
-    - [`ready` (deprecated)](#ready-deprecated)
     - [`closing`](#closing)
     - [`closed`](#closed)
     - [`write`](#write)
@@ -993,10 +992,6 @@ db.once('open', function () {
 })
 ```
 
-#### `ready` (deprecated)
-
-Alias for the `open` event. Deprecated in favor of the `open` event.
-
 #### `closing`
 
 Emitted when database is closing. Receives 0 arguments.
diff --git a/abstract-level.js b/abstract-level.js
index 2e59407..4558eb3 100644
--- a/abstract-level.js
+++ b/abstract-level.js
@@ -92,8 +92,7 @@ class AbstractLevel extends EventEmitter {
       { name: 'write' },
       { name: 'put', deprecated: true, alt: 'write' },
       { name: 'del', deprecated: true, alt: 'write' },
-      { name: 'batch', deprecated: true, alt: 'write' },
-      { name: 'ready', deprecated: true, alt: 'open' }
+      { name: 'batch', deprecated: true, alt: 'write' }
     ])
 
     this[kTranscoder] = new Transcoder(formats(this))
@@ -236,9 +235,6 @@ class AbstractLevel extends EventEmitter {
         // Only emit public event if pending state changes are done
         if (this[kStatus] === 'open') this.emit('open')
 
-        // TODO (next major): remove this alias
-        if (this[kStatus] === 'open') this.emit('ready')
-
         maybeOpened()
       }
     } else if (this[kStatus] === 'open') {