diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index 8c08b2aa3b..145b708706 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -22,6 +22,7 @@
 - Correct the structured function details produced by `rescript-tools doc` and exposed by `RescriptTools.Docgen`: parameters now retain labels and optionality, nested functions, tuples, variables, and generic arguments retain their type structure, return types are identified correctly, and non-function values no longer receive fake function details. This changes the published docgen detail schema. https://github.com/rescript-lang/rescript/pull/8576
 - Make object-field mutability part of the type. A property has one type for reading and writing. Assignment requires `@set`, except on an inferred open row, where assignment makes the field settable. Private rows are not inferred open rows, so a field in `type t = private {.."x": int}` is writable only when annotated with `@set`. Coercions never grant or widen write capability. Previously, getter and setter types were tracked independently, allowing a property to be written at a different type than it was read and allowing writes through a value coerced to a type without `@set`. https://github.com/rescript-lang/rescript/pull/8597
 - Remove the undocumented object-field attribute forms `@get` (bare or with a `null`/`undefined`/`nullable` payload) and `@set({no_get: ...})` on object types. Only bare `@set` marks a field settable; nullable getter types are written directly (`null<t>`, `undefined<t>`, `nullable<t>`). https://github.com/rescript-lang/rescript/pull/8597
+- Remove `Int.Ref` and the `%incr`, `%decr` and `%refget` builtins behind it. Write `r.contents = r.contents + 1` instead; an `external` declared with one of the removed names is now rejected. https://github.com/rescript-lang/rescript/pull/8616
 
 #### :eyeglasses: Spec Compliance
 
diff --git a/compiler/ml/lambda.ml b/compiler/ml/lambda.ml
index d167082364..be06251961 100644
--- a/compiler/ml/lambda.ml
+++ b/compiler/ml/lambda.ml
@@ -351,9 +351,6 @@ type builtin =
   | Primitive of primitive
   | Eliminated of eliminated
   | Constant of structured_constant
-  | Offset_ref of int
-      (** [%incr] / [%decr]: an assignment through the reference, expanded here
-          so the caller's own IR carries the form its escape analysis reads. *)
 
 type inline_attribute =
   | Always_inline (* [@inline] or [@inline always] *)
@@ -490,35 +487,6 @@ let lambda_false = Lconst Const_js_false
 
 (* [r := r.contents + delta]. The reference is mentioned twice, so bind it
    unless it is already a variable. *)
-let offset_ref ~delta r loc =
-  let assign r =
-    Lprim
-      {
-        primitive = Psetfield (0, ref_field_set_info);
-        args =
-          [
-            r;
-            Lprim
-              {
-                primitive = Paddint;
-                args =
-                  [
-                    Lprim
-                      {primitive = Pfield (0, ref_field_info); args = [r]; loc};
-                    Lconst (const_int delta);
-                  ];
-                loc;
-              };
-          ];
-        loc;
-      }
-  in
-  match r with
-  | Lvar _ -> assign r
-  | _ ->
-    let id = Ident.create "ref" in
-    Llet (Strict, id, r, assign (Lvar id))
-
 let eq_comparison (p : comparison) (p1 : comparison) = p = p1
 
 let eq_field_dbg_info (x : field_dbg_info) (y : field_dbg_info) = x = y
@@ -1269,10 +1237,6 @@ let mk_builtin b args loc =
     match args with
     | [] -> Lconst c
     | _ -> assert false)
-  | Offset_ref delta -> (
-    match args with
-    | [r] -> offset_ref ~delta r loc
-    | _ -> assert false)
   | Eliminated Identity -> (
     match args with
     | [arg] -> arg
diff --git a/compiler/ml/lambda.mli b/compiler/ml/lambda.mli
index 9273b2a22b..731dad4956 100644
--- a/compiler/ml/lambda.mli
+++ b/compiler/ml/lambda.mli
@@ -321,9 +321,6 @@ type builtin =
   | Primitive of primitive
   | Eliminated of eliminated
   | Constant of structured_constant
-  | Offset_ref of int
-      (** [%incr] / [%decr]: an assignment through the reference, expanded here
-          so the caller's own IR carries the form its escape analysis reads. *)
 
 type inline_attribute =
   | Always_inline (* [@inline] or [@inline always] *)
diff --git a/compiler/ml/translcore.ml b/compiler/ml/translcore.ml
index 89dfa49da1..98677338cb 100644
--- a/compiler/ml/translcore.ml
+++ b/compiler/ml/translcore.ml
@@ -252,8 +252,6 @@ let erased_builtins : (string * Lambda.builtin) array =
     ("%identity", Eliminated Identity);
     ("%component_identity", Eliminated Identity);
     ("%ignore", Eliminated Ignore);
-    ("%incr", Offset_ref 1);
-    ("%decr", Offset_ref (-1));
     ("%null", Constant Const_js_null);
     ("%undefined", Constant (Const_js_undefined {is_unit = false}));
     (* FIXME: Core compatibility *)
@@ -268,7 +266,6 @@ let primitive_builtins : (string * Lambda.builtin) array =
       (* BEGIN Triples for  ref data type *)
       ("%makeref", Pmakeblock Lambda.ref_tag_info);
       ("%refset", Psetfield (0, Lambda.ref_field_set_info));
-      ("%refget", Pfield (0, Lambda.ref_field_info));
       (* Finish Triples for  ref data type *)
       ("%field0", Pfield (0, Fld_tuple));
       ("%field1", Pfield (1, Fld_tuple));
diff --git a/packages/@rescript/runtime/Stdlib_Int.res b/packages/@rescript/runtime/Stdlib_Int.res
index ed9f47baf7..c7bcccf079 100644
--- a/packages/@rescript/runtime/Stdlib_Int.res
+++ b/packages/@rescript/runtime/Stdlib_Int.res
@@ -127,10 +127,3 @@ module Bitwise = {
 }
 
 external ignore: int => unit = "%ignore"
-
-module Ref = {
-  type t = ref<int>
-
-  external increment: ref<int> => unit = "%incr"
-  external decrement: ref<int> => unit = "%decr"
-}
diff --git a/packages/@rescript/runtime/Stdlib_Int.resi b/packages/@rescript/runtime/Stdlib_Int.resi
index c0f6fa3d42..bd71f41fc2 100644
--- a/packages/@rescript/runtime/Stdlib_Int.resi
+++ b/packages/@rescript/runtime/Stdlib_Int.resi
@@ -520,33 +520,3 @@ module Bitwise: {
   without having to store or process it further.
 */
 external ignore: int => unit = "%ignore"
-
-module Ref: {
-  type t = ref<int>
-
-  /**
-  `increment(intRef)` increments the value of the provided reference by 1.
-
-  ## Examples
-
-  ```rescript
-  let myRef = ref(4)
-  Int.Ref.increment(myRef)
-  myRef.contents == 5
-  ```
-  */
-  external increment: ref<int> => unit = "%incr"
-
-  /**
-  `decrement(intRef)` decrements the value of the provided reference by 1.
-
-  ## Examples
-
-  ```rescript
-  let myRef = ref(4)
-  Int.Ref.decrement(myRef)
-  myRef.contents == 3
-  ```
-  */
-  external decrement: ref<int> => unit = "%decr"
-}
diff --git a/packages/@rescript/runtime/lib/es6/Stdlib_Int.mjs b/packages/@rescript/runtime/lib/es6/Stdlib_Int.mjs
index 2a64b0de12..e93e65af22 100644
--- a/packages/@rescript/runtime/lib/es6/Stdlib_Int.mjs
+++ b/packages/@rescript/runtime/lib/es6/Stdlib_Int.mjs
@@ -75,8 +75,6 @@ let Bitwise = {
   lnot: lnot
 };
 
-let Ref = {};
-
 let Constants = {
   minValue: -2147483648,
   maxValue: 2147483647
@@ -89,6 +87,5 @@ export {
   rangeWithOptions,
   clamp,
   Bitwise,
-  Ref,
 }
 /* No side effect */
diff --git a/packages/@rescript/runtime/lib/js/Stdlib_Int.cjs b/packages/@rescript/runtime/lib/js/Stdlib_Int.cjs
index e0e1d119b7..18c9ac245c 100644
--- a/packages/@rescript/runtime/lib/js/Stdlib_Int.cjs
+++ b/packages/@rescript/runtime/lib/js/Stdlib_Int.cjs
@@ -75,8 +75,6 @@ let Bitwise = {
   lnot: lnot
 };
 
-let Ref = {};
-
 let Constants = {
   minValue: -2147483648,
   maxValue: 2147483647
@@ -88,5 +86,4 @@ exports.range = range;
 exports.rangeWithOptions = rangeWithOptions;
 exports.clamp = clamp;
 exports.Bitwise = Bitwise;
-exports.Ref = Ref;
 /* No side effect */
diff --git a/tests/belt_tests/src/bs_queue_test.res b/tests/belt_tests/src/bs_queue_test.res
index 111fbc3188..1f663f19af 100644
--- a/tests/belt_tests/src/bs_queue_test.res
+++ b/tests/belt_tests/src/bs_queue_test.res
@@ -116,7 +116,7 @@ describe(__MODULE__, () => {
       q,
       j => {
         assert(i.contents == j)
-        Stdlib.Int.Ref.increment(i)
+        i.contents = i.contents + 1
       },
     )
   })
diff --git a/tests/tests/src/ari_regress_test.res b/tests/tests/src/ari_regress_test.res
index d52952d5c8..0e152dea3b 100644
--- a/tests/tests/src/ari_regress_test.res
+++ b/tests/tests/src/ari_regress_test.res
@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@ let gg = (x, y) => {
 
 let g1 = (x, y) => {
   let u = x + y
-  let () = Int.Ref.increment(h)
+  let () = h.contents = h.contents + 1
   (xx, yy) => xx + yy + u
 }
 let x = gg(3, 5)(6)
diff --git a/tests/tests/src/bdd.res b/tests/tests/src/bdd.res
index bbea84aa05..e8870dffae 100644
--- a/tests/tests/src/bdd.res
+++ b/tests/tests/src/bdd.res
@@ -71,7 +71,7 @@ let resize = newSize => {
 let rec insert = (idl, idh, v, ind, bucket, newNode) =>
   if n_items.contents <= sz_1.contents {
     htab.contents->Array.setUnsafe(ind, list{newNode, ...bucket})
-    Int.Ref.increment(n_items)
+    n_items.contents = n_items.contents + 1
   } else {
     resize(sz_1.contents + sz_1.contents + 2)
     let ind = Int.bitwiseAnd(hashVal(idl, idh, v), sz_1.contents)
@@ -102,7 +102,7 @@ let mkNode = (low, v, high) => {
           low,
           v,
           {
-            Int.Ref.increment(nodeC)
+            nodeC.contents = nodeC.contents + 1
             nodeC.contents
           },
           high,
@@ -276,7 +276,7 @@ let test_hwb = (bdd, vars) => {
   let ntrue = ref(0)
   for i in 0 to Array.length(vars) - 1 {
     if vars->Array.getUnsafe(i) {
-      Int.Ref.increment(ntrue)
+      ntrue.contents = ntrue.contents + 1
     }
   }
   bool_equal(
diff --git a/tests/tests/src/bs_ignore_effect.res b/tests/tests/src/bs_ignore_effect.res
index 594bd89899..d085bfa846 100644
--- a/tests/tests/src/bs_ignore_effect.res
+++ b/tests/tests/src/bs_ignore_effect.res
@@ -15,10 +15,10 @@ let v = ref(0)
 
 @obj external config: (~hi: int, ~lo: int, unit) => _ = ""
 
-let h = config(~hi=2, ~lo=0, ignore(Int.Ref.increment(v)))
+let h = config(~hi=2, ~lo=0, ignore(v.contents = v.contents + 1))
 let z = add(
   {
-    Int.Ref.increment(v)
+    v.contents = v.contents + 1
     Float
   },
   3.0,
diff --git a/tests/tests/src/complex_while_loop.res b/tests/tests/src/complex_while_loop.res
index 8db77e2aa2..fe40661f95 100644
--- a/tests/tests/src/complex_while_loop.res
+++ b/tests/tests/src/complex_while_loop.res
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@ let f = () => {
     fib(n.contents) > 10
   } {
     n.contents->Int.toString->Console.log
-    Int.Ref.increment(n)
+    n.contents = n.contents + 1
   }
 }
 
diff --git a/tests/tests/src/condition_compilation_test.res b/tests/tests/src/condition_compilation_test.res
index 8c2050dd03..18f1c071b1 100644
--- a/tests/tests/src/condition_compilation_test.res
+++ b/tests/tests/src/condition_compilation_test.res
@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@ let vv = 3
 let v = ref(1)
 
 let a = {
-  let () = Int.Ref.increment(v)
+  let () = v.contents = v.contents + 1
   v.contents
 }
 
diff --git a/tests/tests/src/earger_curry_test.res b/tests/tests/src/earger_curry_test.res
index 88c520c90f..284e8ad4bb 100644
--- a/tests/tests/src/earger_curry_test.res
+++ b/tests/tests/src/earger_curry_test.res
@@ -96,11 +96,11 @@ let f = x =>
   /* let u = */ add5(
     x,
     {
-      Int.Ref.increment(v)
+      v.contents = v.contents + 1
       1
     },
     {
-      Int.Ref.increment(v)
+      v.contents = v.contents + 1
       2
     },
     ...
@@ -113,11 +113,11 @@ let g = x => {
     add5(
       x,
       {
-        Int.Ref.increment(v)
+        v.contents = v.contents + 1
         1
       },
       {
-        Int.Ref.increment(v)
+        v.contents = v.contents + 1
         2
       },
       a,
diff --git a/tests/tests/src/ffi_arity_test.res b/tests/tests/src/ffi_arity_test.res
index fd652eb541..be200c79d6 100644
--- a/tests/tests/src/ffi_arity_test.res
+++ b/tests/tests/src/ffi_arity_test.res
@@ -27,7 +27,7 @@ let fff = () => {
   /* No inline */
   Console.log("x")
   Console.log("x")
-  Int.Ref.increment(vvv)
+  vvv.contents = vvv.contents + 1
 }
 
 let g = () => fff()
diff --git a/tests/tests/src/ffi_js_test.res b/tests/tests/src/ffi_js_test.res
index 5815162545..66f4f7f589 100644
--- a/tests/tests/src/ffi_js_test.res
+++ b/tests/tests/src/ffi_js_test.res
@@ -70,7 +70,7 @@ describe(__MODULE__, () => {
     let u = ref(3)
     let side_effect_config = config(
       ~kind={
-        Int.Ref.increment(u)
+        u.contents = u.contents + 1
         Int
       },
       ~hi=3,
diff --git a/tests/tests/src/for_loop_test.res b/tests/tests/src/for_loop_test.res
index f4c3cfd09e..4c96e74bcf 100644
--- a/tests/tests/src/for_loop_test.res
+++ b/tests/tests/src/for_loop_test.res
@@ -53,16 +53,16 @@ describe(__MODULE__, () => {
       let v4 = ref(0)
       let v5 = ref(0)
       let inspect_3 = ref(-1)
-      Int.Ref.increment(v4)
+      v4.contents = v4.contents + 1
       for j in 0 to 1 {
-        Int.Ref.increment(v5)
+        v5.contents = v5.contents + 1
         let v2 = ref(0)
         let v3 = u
         for i in 0 to Array.length(x) - 1 {
           let _j = i * 2
           let k = 2 * u * u
           let h = 2 * v5.contents
-          Int.Ref.increment(v2)
+          v2.contents = v2.contents + 1
           arr[i] = _ => v := v.contents + k + v2.contents + v4.contents + v5.contents + h + v3
           /* v2 should not be captured */
         }
@@ -128,7 +128,7 @@ describe(__MODULE__, () => {
         /* incr v ; */
         v := v.contents + i
         for j in 0 to j_len - 1 {
-          Int.Ref.increment(v)
+          v.contents = v.contents + 1
           collect(v.contents)
           arr[i * j_len + j] = _ => vv := vv.contents + v.contents
           /* v should not be captured inside, 
diff --git a/tests/tests/src/functor_def.res b/tests/tests/src/functor_def.res
index 6c3c3669d6..6784510a6b 100644
--- a/tests/tests/src/functor_def.res
+++ b/tests/tests/src/functor_def.res
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 let v = ref(0)
 
 let f = (x, x) => {
-  Int.Ref.increment(v)
+  v.contents = v.contents + 1
   x + x
 }
 
diff --git a/tests/tests/src/global_module_alias_test.res b/tests/tests/src/global_module_alias_test.res
index c01b5ddb14..15f32151f5 100644
--- a/tests/tests/src/global_module_alias_test.res
+++ b/tests/tests/src/global_module_alias_test.res
@@ -22,18 +22,18 @@ let v = ref(0)
 
 module Make = (U: S) => {
   let () = {
-    Int.Ref.increment(v)
-    Int.Ref.increment(v)
-    Int.Ref.increment(v)
+    v.contents = v.contents + 1
+    v.contents = v.contents + 1
+    v.contents = v.contents + 1
   }
   include U
 }
 
 let f = () => {
   let () = {
-    Int.Ref.increment(v)
-    Int.Ref.increment(v)
-    Int.Ref.increment(v)
+    v.contents = v.contents + 1
+    v.contents = v.contents + 1
+    v.contents = v.contents + 1
   }
   module G = F /* local module is not module alias */
   module H = G
diff --git a/tests/tests/src/gpr_1072.res b/tests/tests/src/gpr_1072.res
index 7baea30c2d..6ef2ca77f6 100644
--- a/tests/tests/src/gpr_1072.res
+++ b/tests/tests/src/gpr_1072.res
@@ -153,7 +153,7 @@ let () = {
   again4(~y=(), __LINE__, ())
   again4(
     ~x={
-      Int.Ref.increment(side_effect)
+      side_effect.contents = side_effect.contents + 1
       ()
     },
     ~y=(),
@@ -162,11 +162,11 @@ let () = {
   )
   again4(
     ~x={
-      Int.Ref.increment(side_effect)
+      side_effect.contents = side_effect.contents + 1
       ()
     },
     ~y={
-      Int.Ref.decrement(side_effect)
+      side_effect.contents = side_effect.contents - 1
       ()
     },
     __LINE__,
@@ -174,13 +174,13 @@ let () = {
   )
   again4(
     ~y={
-      Int.Ref.decrement(side_effect)
+      side_effect.contents = side_effect.contents - 1
       ()
     },
     __LINE__,
     (),
   )
-  again4(~x=Int.Ref.increment(side_effect), ~y=(), __LINE__, ())
+  again4(~x=side_effect.contents = side_effect.contents + 1, ~y=(), __LINE__, ())
 }
 
 /* external again5 : ?x__ignore:([`a of unit -> int | `b of string -> int ] [@string]) */
diff --git a/tests/tests/src/gpr_1409_test.res b/tests/tests/src/gpr_1409_test.res
index fb5732b4ce..113c1978d6 100644
--- a/tests/tests/src/gpr_1409_test.res
+++ b/tests/tests/src/gpr_1409_test.res
@@ -51,7 +51,7 @@ let test6 = (f, x) => {
   let x = ref(3)
   mangle(
     ~_open=?{
-      Int.Ref.increment(x)
+      x.contents = x.contents + 1
       Some(x.contents)
     },
     ~xx__hi=?f(x),
diff --git a/tests/tests/src/gpr_1762_test.res b/tests/tests/src/gpr_1762_test.res
index 6ab203049b..d6d6442e16 100644
--- a/tests/tests/src/gpr_1762_test.res
+++ b/tests/tests/src/gpr_1762_test.res
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@ open Test_utils
 let v = ref(3)
 
 let update = () => {
-  Int.Ref.increment(v)
+  v.contents = v.contents + 1
   true
 }
 
diff --git a/tests/tests/src/gpr_2413_test.res b/tests/tests/src/gpr_2413_test.res
index e8df317668..50307f7d0d 100644
--- a/tests/tests/src/gpr_2413_test.res
+++ b/tests/tests/src/gpr_2413_test.res
@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@ let ff = c =>
   switch {
     let a = 1
     let b = 1
-    Int.Ref.increment(c)
+    c.contents = c.contents + 1
     a + c.contents + b
   } {
   | (0 | 1 | 2 | 3) as n => n + 1
diff --git a/tests/tests/src/lazy_test.res b/tests/tests/src/lazy_test.res
index aeaf89ef05..5a77e03607 100644
--- a/tests/tests/src/lazy_test.res
+++ b/tests/tests/src/lazy_test.res
@@ -41,7 +41,7 @@ let exotic = x =>
 let l_from_fun = Lazy.make(_ => 3)
 let forward_test = Lazy.make(() => {
   let u = ref(3)
-  Int.Ref.increment(u)
+  u.contents = u.contents + 1
   u.contents
 })
 
diff --git a/tests/tests/src/loop_regression_test.res b/tests/tests/src/loop_regression_test.res
index 9e318d1d34..d646f2ec16 100644
--- a/tests/tests/src/loop_regression_test.res
+++ b/tests/tests/src/loop_regression_test.res
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@ let f = () => {
       acc.contents
     } else {
       acc := acc.contents + v.contents
-      Int.Ref.increment(v)
+      v.contents = v.contents + 1
       loop(n)
     }
   loop(10)
diff --git a/tests/tests/src/optional_ffi_test.res b/tests/tests/src/optional_ffi_test.res
index 72b9825364..49dc9ca75f 100644
--- a/tests/tests/src/optional_ffi_test.res
+++ b/tests/tests/src/optional_ffi_test.res
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@ function hey(x, y) {
 
 let counter = ref(0)
 let side_effect = x => {
-  Int.Ref.increment(x)
+  x.contents = x.contents + 1
   x.contents
 }
 
@@ -21,7 +21,7 @@ let bug_to_fix2 = (f, x) => xx(~x=?f(x), ~y=3, ()) /* : [f x] is done once */
 
 let counter2 = ref(0)
 let side_effect2 = x => {
-  Int.Ref.increment(x)
+  x.contents = x.contents + 1
   Some(x.contents)
 }
 
diff --git a/tests/tests/src/rec_fun_test.res b/tests/tests/src/rec_fun_test.res
index 006db5cd2b..4ddb5dd04f 100644
--- a/tests/tests/src/rec_fun_test.res
+++ b/tests/tests/src/rec_fun_test.res
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@ let called = ref(0)
 let g = () => {
   let rec v = ref(next)
   and next = (i, b) => {
-    Int.Ref.increment(called)
+    called.contents = called.contents + 1
     if b {
       ignore(v.contents(i, false))
     }
diff --git a/tests/tests/src/test_fib.res b/tests/tests/src/test_fib.res
index f3702806e8..e441546b3f 100644
--- a/tests/tests/src/test_fib.res
+++ b/tests/tests/src/test_fib.res
@@ -56,7 +56,7 @@ let f = x => {
   let sum = ref(0)
   while v.contents > 0 {
     sum := sum.contents + v.contents
-    Int.Ref.decrement(v)
+    v.contents = v.contents - 1
   }
   sum.contents
 }
diff --git a/tests/tests/src/test_for_loop.res b/tests/tests/src/test_for_loop.res
index ad548ae2cd..4a4579f3b7 100644
--- a/tests/tests/src/test_for_loop.res
+++ b/tests/tests/src/test_for_loop.res
@@ -52,16 +52,16 @@ let for_6 = (x, u) => {
   let arr = x->Array.map(_ => _ => ())
   let v4 = ref(0)
   let v5 = ref(0)
-  Int.Ref.increment(v4)
+  v4.contents = v4.contents + 1
   for j in 0 to 1 {
-    Int.Ref.increment(v5)
+    v5.contents = v5.contents + 1
     let v2 = ref(0)
     let v3 = u
     for i in 0 to Array.length(x) {
       let _j = i * 2
       let k = 2 * u * u
       let h = 2 * v5.contents
-      Int.Ref.increment(v2)
+      v2.contents = v2.contents + 1
       arr[i] = _ => v := v.contents + k + v2.contents + v3 + v4.contents + v5.contents + h
     }
   }
diff --git a/tests/tests/src/test_incr_ref.mjs b/tests/tests/src/test_incr_ref.mjs
index f5a7945013..6e22f1919f 100644
--- a/tests/tests/src/test_incr_ref.mjs
+++ b/tests/tests/src/test_incr_ref.mjs
@@ -7,13 +7,7 @@ u = u + 1 | 0;
 
 let v;
 
-function onExpression() {
-  let ref = mkRef();
-  ref.contents = ref.contents + 1 | 0;
-}
-
 export {
   v,
-  onExpression,
 }
 /* v Not a pure module */
diff --git a/tests/tests/src/test_incr_ref.res b/tests/tests/src/test_incr_ref.res
index 34485d403d..37c343d736 100644
--- a/tests/tests/src/test_incr_ref.res
+++ b/tests/tests/src/test_incr_ref.res
@@ -1,14 +1,8 @@
 include (
   {
     let u = ref(0)
-    let v = Int.Ref.increment(u)
+    let v = u.contents = u.contents + 1
   }: {
     let v: unit
   }
 )
-
-/* The reference is an expression, not a variable, so it has to be bound: it
- must be evaluated once, not once per mention. */
-@val external mkRef: unit => ref<int> = "mkRef"
-
-let onExpression = () => Int.Ref.increment(mkRef())
diff --git a/tests/tests/src/test_per.res b/tests/tests/src/test_per.res
index 835873593e..a33c4dfc06 100644
--- a/tests/tests/src/test_per.res
+++ b/tests/tests/src/test_per.res
@@ -155,7 +155,4 @@ external snd: (('a, 'b)) => 'b = "%field1"
 
 type ref<'a> = {mutable contents: 'a}
 external ref: 'a => ref<'a> = "%makeref"
-external \"!": ref<'a> => 'a = "%refget"
 external \":=": (ref<'a>, 'a) => unit = "%refset"
-external incr: ref<int> => unit = "%incr"
-external decr: ref<int> => unit = "%decr"
diff --git a/tests/tests/src/test_side_effect_functor.res b/tests/tests/src/test_side_effect_functor.res
index c4db841757..b277cdd7e4 100644
--- a/tests/tests/src/test_side_effect_functor.res
+++ b/tests/tests/src/test_side_effect_functor.res
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@ include (
     module M = () => {
       let v = ref(0)
       {
-        Int.Ref.increment(v)
+        v.contents = v.contents + 1
         v.contents->Int.toString->Console.log
       }
       let u = 3
diff --git a/tests/tests/src/test_simple_ref.res b/tests/tests/src/test_simple_ref.res
index 40682cb8eb..44fcd26c1b 100644
--- a/tests/tests/src/test_simple_ref.res
+++ b/tests/tests/src/test_simple_ref.res
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@ include (
     let v = ref(0)
 
     let gen = () => {
-      Int.Ref.increment(v)
+      v.contents = v.contents + 1
       v.contents
     }
     let h = ref(0)
diff --git a/tests/tests/src/test_u.res b/tests/tests/src/test_u.res
index d7279ea888..a820f37fa4 100644
--- a/tests/tests/src/test_u.res
+++ b/tests/tests/src/test_u.res
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@ let f = x => {
   let sum = ref(0)
   while v.contents > 0 {
     sum := sum.contents + v.contents
-    Int.Ref.decrement(v)
+    v.contents = v.contents - 1
   }
   sum.contents
 }
diff --git a/tests/tests/src/test_while_closure.res b/tests/tests/src/test_while_closure.res
index f76afc4195..71841134f9 100644
--- a/tests/tests/src/test_while_closure.res
+++ b/tests/tests/src/test_while_closure.res
@@ -44,7 +44,7 @@ let f = () => {
   while n.contents < count {
     let j = n.contents
     arr[j] = _ => v := v.contents + j
-    Int.Ref.increment(n)
+    n.contents = n.contents + 1
   }
 }
 
diff --git a/tests/tests/src/test_while_side_effect.res b/tests/tests/src/test_while_side_effect.res
index 38f1613165..feb1d470b5 100644
--- a/tests/tests/src/test_while_side_effect.res
+++ b/tests/tests/src/test_while_side_effect.res
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@ let v = ref(0)
 
 while {
   v.contents->Int.toString->Console.log
-  Int.Ref.increment(v)
+  v.contents = v.contents + 1
   v.contents < 10
 } {
   ignore()
@@ -18,8 +18,8 @@ let x = ref(3)
 while {
   let y = ref(3)
   x.contents->Int.toString->Console.log
-  Int.Ref.increment(y)
-  Int.Ref.increment(x)
+  y.contents = y.contents + 1
+  x.contents = x.contents + 1
   fib(x.contents) + fib(x.contents) < 20
 } {
   3->Int.toString->Console.log
diff --git a/tests/tests/src/tuple_alloc.res b/tests/tests/src/tuple_alloc.res
index 50287bdef9..3fc556fd4d 100644
--- a/tests/tests/src/tuple_alloc.res
+++ b/tests/tests/src/tuple_alloc.res
@@ -1,10 +1,10 @@
 let v = ref(0)
 
-let (reset, incr) = (_ => v := 0, _ => Int.Ref.increment(v))
+let (reset, incr) = (_ => v := 0, _ => v.contents = v.contents + 1)
 
 let (reset2, incr2) = {
   let vv = ref(0)
-  (() => vv := 0, () => Int.Ref.increment(vv))
+  (() => vv := 0, () => vv.contents = vv.contents + 1)
 }
 
 let f = (a, b, d, e) => {