diff --git a/build.gradle b/build.gradle
index 9b4aa3ed9c7..93659101d84 100644
--- a/build.gradle
+++ b/build.gradle
@@ -552,31 +552,6 @@ gradle.projectsEvaluated {
   }
 }
 
-if (System.properties.get("build.compare") != null) {
-  apply plugin: 'compare-gradle-builds'
-  compareGradleBuilds {
-    ext.referenceProject = System.properties.get("build.compare")
-    doFirst {
-      if (file(referenceProject).exists() == false) {
-        throw new GradleException(
-                "Use git worktree to check out a version to compare against to ../elasticsearch_build_reference"
-        )
-      }
-    }
-    sourceBuild {
-      gradleVersion = gradle.getGradleVersion()
-      projectDir = referenceProject
-      tasks = ["clean", "assemble"]
-      arguments = ["-Dbuild.compare_friendly=true"]
-    }
-    targetBuild {
-      tasks = ["clean", "assemble"]
-      // use -Dorg.gradle.java.home= to alter jdk versions
-      arguments = ["-Dbuild.compare_friendly=true"]
-    }
-  }
-}
-
 allprojects {
   task resolveAllDependencies {
       dependsOn tasks.matching { it.name == "pullFixture"}
diff --git a/buildSrc/src/main/groovy/org/elasticsearch/gradle/BuildPlugin.groovy b/buildSrc/src/main/groovy/org/elasticsearch/gradle/BuildPlugin.groovy
index d86cfdae2db..1f713e9f1be 100644
--- a/buildSrc/src/main/groovy/org/elasticsearch/gradle/BuildPlugin.groovy
+++ b/buildSrc/src/main/groovy/org/elasticsearch/gradle/BuildPlugin.groovy
@@ -922,10 +922,6 @@ class BuildPlugin implements Plugin<Project> {
                         jarTask.manifest.attributes('Change': shortHash)
                     }
                 }
-                // Force manifest entries that change by nature to a constant to be able to compare builds more effectively
-                if (System.properties.getProperty("build.compare_friendly", "false") == "true") {
-                    jarTask.manifest.getAttributes().clear()
-                }
             }
             // add license/notice files
             project.afterEvaluate {