diff --git a/cql3/cql_statement.hh b/cql3/cql_statement.hh
index 9c1fdd2475..33874683ad 100644
--- a/cql3/cql_statement.hh
+++ b/cql3/cql_statement.hh
@@ -98,14 +98,6 @@ public:
     virtual future<::shared_ptr<cql_transport::messages::result_message>>
         execute(service::storage_proxy& proxy, service::query_state& state, const query_options& options) = 0;
 
-    /**
-     * Variant of execute used for internal query against the system tables, and thus only query the local node = 0.
-     *
-     * @param state the current query state
-     */
-    virtual future<::shared_ptr<cql_transport::messages::result_message>>
-        execute_internal(service::storage_proxy& proxy, service::query_state& state, const query_options& options) = 0;
-
     virtual bool uses_function(const sstring& ks_name, const sstring& function_name) const = 0;
 
     virtual bool depends_on_keyspace(const sstring& ks_name) const = 0;
diff --git a/cql3/query_processor.cc b/cql3/query_processor.cc
index 6f11251922..3c2e2b1424 100644
--- a/cql3/query_processor.cc
+++ b/cql3/query_processor.cc
@@ -291,12 +291,7 @@ query_processor::process_authorized_statement(const ::shared_ptr<cql_statement>
 
     statement->validate(_proxy, client_state);
 
-    auto fut = make_ready_future<::shared_ptr<cql_transport::messages::result_message>>();
-    if (client_state.is_internal()) {
-        fut = statement->execute_internal(_proxy, query_state, options);
-    } else  {
-        fut = statement->execute(_proxy, query_state, options);
-    }
+    auto fut = statement->execute(_proxy, query_state, options);
 
     return fut.then([statement] (auto msg) {
         if (msg) {
@@ -522,7 +517,7 @@ future<> query_processor::for_each_cql_result(
 
 future<::shared_ptr<untyped_result_set>>
 query_processor::execute_paged_internal(::shared_ptr<internal_query_state> state) {
-    return state->p->statement->execute_internal(_proxy, *_internal_state, *state->opts).then(
+    return state->p->statement->execute(_proxy, *_internal_state, *state->opts).then(
             [state, this](::shared_ptr<cql_transport::messages::result_message> msg) mutable {
         class visitor : public result_message::visitor_base {
             ::shared_ptr<internal_query_state> _state;
@@ -563,7 +558,7 @@ query_processor::execute_internal(
         const std::initializer_list<data_value>& values) {
     query_options opts = make_internal_options(p, values, db::consistency_level::ONE, infinite_timeout_config);
     return do_with(std::move(opts), [this, p = std::move(p)](auto& opts) {
-        return p->statement->execute_internal(
+        return p->statement->execute(
                 _proxy,
                 *_internal_state,
                 opts).then([&opts, stmt = p->statement](auto msg) {
diff --git a/cql3/statements/authentication_statement.cc b/cql3/statements/authentication_statement.cc
index 5c9a3c2eda..e94c39e2c3 100644
--- a/cql3/statements/authentication_statement.cc
+++ b/cql3/statements/authentication_statement.cc
@@ -74,10 +74,3 @@ void cql3::statements::authentication_statement::validate(
 future<> cql3::statements::authentication_statement::check_access(const service::client_state& state) {
     return make_ready_future<>();
 }
-
-future<::shared_ptr<cql_transport::messages::result_message>> cql3::statements::authentication_statement::execute_internal(
-                service::storage_proxy& proxy,
-                service::query_state& state, const query_options& options) {
-    // Internal queries are exclusively on the system keyspace and makes no sense here
-    throw std::runtime_error("unsupported operation");
-}
diff --git a/cql3/statements/authentication_statement.hh b/cql3/statements/authentication_statement.hh
index 6dcaefafc1..3300edc9ab 100644
--- a/cql3/statements/authentication_statement.hh
+++ b/cql3/statements/authentication_statement.hh
@@ -67,9 +67,6 @@ public:
     future<> check_access(const service::client_state& state) override;
 
     void validate(service::storage_proxy&, const service::client_state& state) override;
-
-    future<::shared_ptr<cql_transport::messages::result_message>>
-    execute_internal(service::storage_proxy& proxy, service::query_state& state, const query_options& options) override;
 };
 
 }
diff --git a/cql3/statements/authorization_statement.cc b/cql3/statements/authorization_statement.cc
index 3fa73b43f1..cbbd89c016 100644
--- a/cql3/statements/authorization_statement.cc
+++ b/cql3/statements/authorization_statement.cc
@@ -75,13 +75,6 @@ future<> cql3::statements::authorization_statement::check_access(const service::
     return make_ready_future<>();
 }
 
-future<::shared_ptr<cql_transport::messages::result_message>> cql3::statements::authorization_statement::execute_internal(
-                service::storage_proxy& proxy,
-                service::query_state& state, const query_options& options) {
-    // Internal queries are exclusively on the system keyspace and makes no sense here
-    throw std::runtime_error("unsupported operation");
-}
-
 void cql3::statements::authorization_statement::maybe_correct_resource(auth::resource& resource, const service::client_state& state) {
     if (resource.kind() == auth::resource_kind::data) {
         const auto data_view = auth::data_resource_view(resource);
diff --git a/cql3/statements/authorization_statement.hh b/cql3/statements/authorization_statement.hh
index 72c204fb67..a86c7bf7f4 100644
--- a/cql3/statements/authorization_statement.hh
+++ b/cql3/statements/authorization_statement.hh
@@ -72,9 +72,6 @@ public:
 
     void validate(service::storage_proxy&, const service::client_state& state) override;
 
-    future<::shared_ptr<cql_transport::messages::result_message>>
-    execute_internal(service::storage_proxy& proxy, service::query_state& state, const query_options& options) override;
-
 protected:
     static void maybe_correct_resource(auth::resource&, const service::client_state&);
 };
diff --git a/cql3/statements/batch_statement.cc b/cql3/statements/batch_statement.cc
index 8916781b95..35d0458732 100644
--- a/cql3/statements/batch_statement.cc
+++ b/cql3/statements/batch_statement.cc
@@ -403,23 +403,6 @@ future<shared_ptr<cql_transport::messages::result_message>> batch_statement::exe
 #endif
 }
 
-future<shared_ptr<cql_transport::messages::result_message>> batch_statement::execute_internal(
-        service::storage_proxy& proxy,
-        service::query_state& query_state, const query_options& options)
-{
-    throw std::runtime_error(sprint("%s not implemented", __PRETTY_FUNCTION__));
-#if 0
-    assert !hasConditions;
-    for (IMutation mutation : getMutations(BatchQueryOptions.withoutPerStatementVariables(options), true, queryState.getTimestamp()))
-    {
-        // We don't use counters internally.
-        assert mutation instanceof Mutation;
-        ((Mutation) mutation).apply();
-    }
-    return null;
-#endif
-}
-
 namespace raw {
 
 std::unique_ptr<prepared_statement>
diff --git a/cql3/statements/batch_statement.hh b/cql3/statements/batch_statement.hh
index f31d24e79f..0aeb98d0e4 100644
--- a/cql3/statements/batch_statement.hh
+++ b/cql3/statements/batch_statement.hh
@@ -154,10 +154,6 @@ private:
             const query_options& options,
             service::query_state& state);
 public:
-    virtual future<shared_ptr<cql_transport::messages::result_message>> execute_internal(
-            service::storage_proxy& proxy,
-            service::query_state& query_state, const query_options& options) override;
-
     // FIXME: no cql_statement::to_string() yet
 #if 0
     sstring to_string() const {
diff --git a/cql3/statements/modification_statement.cc b/cql3/statements/modification_statement.cc
index f68bee6a6e..ab6d91f661 100644
--- a/cql3/statements/modification_statement.cc
+++ b/cql3/statements/modification_statement.cc
@@ -438,26 +438,6 @@ modification_statement::execute_with_condition(service::storage_proxy& proxy, se
 #endif
 }
 
-future<::shared_ptr<cql_transport::messages::result_message>>
-modification_statement::execute_internal(service::storage_proxy& proxy, service::query_state& qs, const query_options& options) {
-    if (has_conditions()) {
-        throw exceptions::unsupported_operation_exception();
-    }
-
-    tracing::add_table_name(qs.get_trace_state(), keyspace(), column_family());
-
-    inc_cql_stats();
-
-    return get_mutations(proxy, options, true, options.get_timestamp(qs), qs.get_trace_state()).then(
-            [&proxy] (auto mutations) {
-                return proxy.mutate_locally(std::move(mutations));
-            }).then(
-            [] {
-                return make_ready_future<::shared_ptr<cql_transport::messages::result_message>>(
-                        ::shared_ptr<cql_transport::messages::result_message> {});
-            });
-}
-
 void
 modification_statement::process_where_clause(database& db, std::vector<relation_ptr> where_clause, ::shared_ptr<variable_specifications> names) {
     _restrictions = ::make_shared<restrictions::statement_restrictions>(
diff --git a/cql3/statements/modification_statement.hh b/cql3/statements/modification_statement.hh
index e75f9e7d88..01647a13d3 100644
--- a/cql3/statements/modification_statement.hh
+++ b/cql3/statements/modification_statement.hh
@@ -217,9 +217,6 @@ public:
     virtual future<::shared_ptr<cql_transport::messages::result_message>>
     execute(service::storage_proxy& proxy, service::query_state& qs, const query_options& options) override;
 
-    virtual future<::shared_ptr<cql_transport::messages::result_message>>
-    execute_internal(service::storage_proxy& proxy, service::query_state& qs, const query_options& options) override;
-
 private:
     future<>
     execute_without_condition(service::storage_proxy& proxy, service::query_state& qs, const query_options& options);
diff --git a/cql3/statements/schema_altering_statement.cc b/cql3/statements/schema_altering_statement.cc
index 6818c88429..78f1aacfcc 100644
--- a/cql3/statements/schema_altering_statement.cc
+++ b/cql3/statements/schema_altering_statement.cc
@@ -109,18 +109,17 @@ schema_altering_statement::execute0(service::storage_proxy& proxy, service::quer
 
 future<::shared_ptr<messages::result_message>>
 schema_altering_statement::execute(service::storage_proxy& proxy, service::query_state& state, const query_options& options) {
-    return execute0(proxy, state, options, false).then([this, &state](::shared_ptr<messages::result_message> result) {
-        return grant_permissions_to_creator(state.get_client_state()).then([result = std::move(result)] {
+    bool internal = state.get_client_state().is_internal();
+    return execute0(proxy, state, options, internal).then([this, &state, internal](::shared_ptr<messages::result_message> result) {
+        auto permissions_granted_fut = internal
+                ? make_ready_future<>()
+                : grant_permissions_to_creator(state.get_client_state());
+        return permissions_granted_fut.then([result = std::move(result)] {
            return result;
         });
     });
 }
 
-future<::shared_ptr<messages::result_message>>
-schema_altering_statement::execute_internal(service::storage_proxy& proxy, service::query_state& state, const query_options& options) {
-    return execute0(proxy, state, options, true);
-}
-
 }
 
 }
diff --git a/cql3/statements/schema_altering_statement.hh b/cql3/statements/schema_altering_statement.hh
index c32429349e..d857f94d09 100644
--- a/cql3/statements/schema_altering_statement.hh
+++ b/cql3/statements/schema_altering_statement.hh
@@ -93,9 +93,6 @@ protected:
 
     virtual future<::shared_ptr<messages::result_message>>
     execute(service::storage_proxy& proxy, service::query_state& state, const query_options& options) override;
-
-    virtual future<::shared_ptr<messages::result_message>>
-    execute_internal(service::storage_proxy&, service::query_state& state, const query_options& options) override;
 };
 
 }
diff --git a/cql3/statements/select_statement.cc b/cql3/statements/select_statement.cc
index c1c3087155..3719794f42 100644
--- a/cql3/statements/select_statement.cc
+++ b/cql3/statements/select_statement.cc
@@ -532,48 +532,6 @@ select_statement::execute(service::storage_proxy& proxy,
     });
 }
 
-future<::shared_ptr<cql_transport::messages::result_message>>
-select_statement::execute_internal(service::storage_proxy& proxy,
-                                   service::query_state& state,
-                                   const query_options& options)
-{
-    if (options.get_specific_options().page_size > 0) {
-        // need page, use regular execute
-        return do_execute(proxy, state, options);
-    }
-    int32_t limit = get_limit(options);
-    auto now = gc_clock::now();
-    auto command = ::make_lw_shared<query::read_command>(_schema->id(), _schema->version(),
-        make_partition_slice(options), limit, now, std::experimental::nullopt, query::max_partitions, utils::UUID(), options.get_timestamp(state));
-    auto partition_ranges = _restrictions->get_partition_key_ranges(options);
-
-    tracing::add_table_name(state.get_trace_state(), keyspace(), column_family());
-
-    ++_stats.reads;
-
-    if (needs_post_query_ordering() && _limit) {
-        return do_with(std::move(partition_ranges), [this, &proxy, &state, command] (auto& prs) {
-            assert(command->partition_limit == query::max_partitions);
-            query::result_merger merger(command->row_limit * prs.size(), query::max_partitions);
-            return map_reduce(prs.begin(), prs.end(), [this, &proxy, &state, command] (auto& pr) {
-                dht::partition_range_vector prange { pr };
-                auto cmd = ::make_lw_shared<query::read_command>(*command);
-                return proxy.query(_schema, cmd, std::move(prange), db::consistency_level::ONE, {db::no_timeout, state.get_trace_state(),
-                        }).then([] (service::storage_proxy::coordinator_query_result qr) {
-                    return std::move(qr.query_result);
-                });
-            }, std::move(merger));
-        }).then([command, this, &options, now] (auto result) {
-            return this->process_results(std::move(result), command, options, now);
-        }).finally([command] { });
-    } else {
-        auto query = proxy.query(_schema, command, std::move(partition_ranges), db::consistency_level::ONE, {db::no_timeout, state.get_trace_state()});
-        return query.then([command, this, &options, now] (service::storage_proxy::coordinator_query_result qr) {
-            return this->process_results(std::move(qr.query_result), command, options, now);
-        }).finally([command] {});
-    }
-}
-
 shared_ptr<cql_transport::messages::result_message>
 select_statement::process_results(foreign_ptr<lw_shared_ptr<query::result>> results,
                                   lw_shared_ptr<query::read_command> cmd,
diff --git a/cql3/statements/select_statement.hh b/cql3/statements/select_statement.hh
index c311c766b9..f9d586dcc9 100644
--- a/cql3/statements/select_statement.hh
+++ b/cql3/statements/select_statement.hh
@@ -117,9 +117,6 @@ public:
     virtual future<::shared_ptr<cql_transport::messages::result_message>> execute(service::storage_proxy& proxy,
         service::query_state& state, const query_options& options) override;
 
-    virtual future<::shared_ptr<cql_transport::messages::result_message>> execute_internal(service::storage_proxy& proxy,
-            service::query_state& state, const query_options& options) override;
-
     future<::shared_ptr<cql_transport::messages::result_message>> execute(service::storage_proxy& proxy,
         lw_shared_ptr<query::read_command> cmd, dht::partition_range_vector&& partition_ranges, service::query_state& state,
          const query_options& options, gc_clock::time_point now);
diff --git a/cql3/statements/truncate_statement.cc b/cql3/statements/truncate_statement.cc
index 6dc9455e21..6779f9513e 100644
--- a/cql3/statements/truncate_statement.cc
+++ b/cql3/statements/truncate_statement.cc
@@ -106,12 +106,6 @@ truncate_statement::execute(service::storage_proxy& proxy, service::query_state&
     });
 }
 
-future<::shared_ptr<cql_transport::messages::result_message>>
-truncate_statement::execute_internal(service::storage_proxy& proxy, service::query_state& state, const query_options& options)
-{
-    throw std::runtime_error("unsupported operation");
-}
-
 }
 
 }
diff --git a/cql3/statements/truncate_statement.hh b/cql3/statements/truncate_statement.hh
index 870a529de9..fcbcb4ddfb 100644
--- a/cql3/statements/truncate_statement.hh
+++ b/cql3/statements/truncate_statement.hh
@@ -70,9 +70,6 @@ public:
 
     virtual future<::shared_ptr<cql_transport::messages::result_message>>
     execute(service::storage_proxy& proxy, service::query_state& state, const query_options& options) override;
-
-    virtual future<::shared_ptr<cql_transport::messages::result_message>>
-    execute_internal(service::storage_proxy& proxy, service::query_state& state, const query_options& options) override;
 };
 
 }
diff --git a/cql3/statements/use_statement.cc b/cql3/statements/use_statement.cc
index 394e3376ea..f358964b40 100644
--- a/cql3/statements/use_statement.cc
+++ b/cql3/statements/use_statement.cc
@@ -105,12 +105,6 @@ use_statement::execute(service::storage_proxy& proxy, service::query_state& stat
     return make_ready_future<::shared_ptr<cql_transport::messages::result_message>>(result);
 }
 
-future<::shared_ptr<cql_transport::messages::result_message>>
-use_statement::execute_internal(service::storage_proxy& proxy, service::query_state& state, const query_options& options) {
-    // Internal queries are exclusively on the system keyspace and 'use' is thus useless
-    throw std::runtime_error("unsupported operation");
-}
-
 }
 
 }
diff --git a/cql3/statements/use_statement.hh b/cql3/statements/use_statement.hh
index ae430b192d..a866bbb90d 100644
--- a/cql3/statements/use_statement.hh
+++ b/cql3/statements/use_statement.hh
@@ -71,9 +71,6 @@ public:
 
     virtual future<::shared_ptr<cql_transport::messages::result_message>>
     execute(service::storage_proxy& proxy, service::query_state& state, const query_options& options) override;
-
-    virtual future<::shared_ptr<cql_transport::messages::result_message>>
-    execute_internal(service::storage_proxy& proxy, service::query_state& state, const query_options& options) override;
 };
 
 }