diff --git a/src/durability.rs b/src/durability.rs
index a895de15..58a81e37 100644
--- a/src/durability.rs
+++ b/src/durability.rs
@@ -35,13 +35,14 @@ impl Durability {
     /// Example: the standard library or something from crates.io
     pub const HIGH: Durability = Durability(2);
 
+    /// The maximum possible durability; equivalent to HIGH but
+    /// "conceptually" distinct (i.e., if we add more durability
+    /// levels, this could change).
+    pub(crate) const MAX: Durability = Self::HIGH;
+
     /// Number of durability levels.
     pub(crate) const LEN: usize = 3;
 
-    pub(crate) fn new(v: usize) -> Durability {
-        Durability(v as u8)
-    }
-
     pub(crate) fn index(self) -> usize {
         self.0 as usize
     }
diff --git a/src/runtime.rs b/src/runtime.rs
index 2a26b4e1..f1a2a64f 100644
--- a/src/runtime.rs
+++ b/src/runtime.rs
@@ -159,11 +159,6 @@ where
         db.for_each_query(|query_storage| query_storage.sweep(db, strategy));
     }
 
-    /// Returns the max durability, used for constants.
-    pub(crate) fn max_durability(&self) -> Durability {
-        Durability::new(self.shared_state.revisions.len() - 1)
-    }
-
     /// The unique identifier attached to this `SalsaRuntime`. Each
     /// snapshotted runtime has a distinct identifier.
     #[inline]
@@ -349,7 +344,7 @@ where
         });
 
         // Push the active query onto the stack.
-        let max_durability = self.max_durability();
+        let max_durability = Durability::MAX;
         let active_query = self.local_state.push_query(database_key, max_durability);
 
         // Execute user's code, accumulating inputs etc.