diff --git a/apis/meta/annotations.go b/apis/meta/annotations.go
index 4fd37c9c7..01d4612e7 100644
--- a/apis/meta/annotations.go
+++ b/apis/meta/annotations.go
@@ -17,36 +17,17 @@ limitations under the License.
 package meta
 
 const (
-	// ReconcileAtAnnotation is the annotation used for triggering a reconciliation
-	// outside of the defined schedule. Despite the name, the value is not
-	// interpreted as a timestamp, and any change in value shall trigger a
-	// reconciliation.
-	// DEPRECATED: has been replaced by ReconcileRequestAnnotation. For
-	// backward-compatibility, use ReconcileAnnotationValue, which will account for
-	// both annotations.
-	ReconcileAtAnnotation string = "fluxcd.io/reconcileAt"
-
 	// ReconcileRequestAnnotation is the annotation used for triggering a reconciliation
 	// outside of a defined schedule. The value is interpreted as a token, and any change
 	// in value SHOULD trigger a reconciliation.
 	ReconcileRequestAnnotation string = "reconcile.fluxcd.io/requestedAt"
 )
 
-// ReconcileAnnotationValue returns a value for the reconciliation request annotations, which can be used to detect
-// changes; and, a boolean indicating whether either annotation was set.
+// ReconcileAnnotationValue returns a value for the reconciliation request annotation, which can be used to detect
+// changes; and, a boolean indicating whether the annotation was set.
 func ReconcileAnnotationValue(annotations map[string]string) (string, bool) {
-	reconcileAt, ok1 := annotations[ReconcileAtAnnotation]
-	requestedAt, ok2 := annotations[ReconcileRequestAnnotation]
-	// the values are concatenated; this means
-	// - a change in either will be detectable*, and
-	// - if one is set, the value will be just that; and,
-	// - if neither is set, it's a zero value.
-	//
-	// *unless the change is to shift a substring across the
-	// interstice between the strings; e.g., by swapping the value
-	// from one annotation to the other. Assuming a fresh timestamp is
-	// used each time, this caveat won't matter.
-	return reconcileAt + requestedAt, ok1 || ok2
+	requestedAt, ok := annotations[ReconcileRequestAnnotation]
+	return requestedAt, ok
 }
 
 // ReconcileRequestStatus is a struct to embed in a status type, so that all types using the mechanism have the same
diff --git a/apis/meta/annotations_test.go b/apis/meta/annotations_test.go
index f923613df..9ee738ed3 100644
--- a/apis/meta/annotations_test.go
+++ b/apis/meta/annotations_test.go
@@ -41,8 +41,8 @@ func TestGetAnnotationValue(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 	obj.Status.SetLastHandledReconcileRequest(val)
 
-	// set one annotation: should detect a change
-	obj.Annotations[ReconcileAtAnnotation] = time.Now().Format(time.RFC3339Nano)
+	// set annotation: should detect a change
+	obj.Annotations[ReconcileRequestAnnotation] = time.Now().Format(time.RFC3339Nano)
 	val, ok = ReconcileAnnotationValue(obj.Annotations)
 	if !ok {
 		t.Error("expected ReconcileAnnotationValue to return true when an annotation is set")
@@ -54,7 +54,7 @@ func TestGetAnnotationValue(t *testing.T) {
 
 	obj.Status.SetLastHandledReconcileRequest(val)
 
-	// set the other annotation; should detect a change
+	// update annotation; should detect a change
 	obj.Annotations[ReconcileRequestAnnotation] = time.Now().Format(time.RFC3339Nano)
 	val, ok = ReconcileAnnotationValue(obj.Annotations)
 	if !ok {
diff --git a/runtime/predicates/reconcile_at_changed.go b/runtime/predicates/reconcile_at_changed.go
deleted file mode 100644
index 4fbd66595..000000000
--- a/runtime/predicates/reconcile_at_changed.go
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,24 +0,0 @@
-/*
-Copyright 2020 The Flux authors
-
-Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
-you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
-You may obtain a copy of the License at
-
-    http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
-
-Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
-distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
-WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
-See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
-limitations under the License.
-*/
-
-package predicates
-
-// ReconcilateAtChangedPredicate detects meta.ReconcileAtAnnotation changes.
-//
-// DEPRECATED: use ReconcileRequestedPredicate instead.
-type ReconcilateAtChangedPredicate struct {
-	ReconcileRequestedPredicate
-}