diff --git a/crates/nyash_kernel/src/ffi/lifecycle.rs b/crates/nyash_kernel/src/ffi/lifecycle.rs
index 5e3dcc05..d581b8c3 100644
--- a/crates/nyash_kernel/src/ffi/lifecycle.rs
+++ b/crates/nyash_kernel/src/ffi/lifecycle.rs
@@ -57,18 +57,16 @@ pub extern "C" fn nyrt_handle_release_h(handle: i64) {
 }
 
 // ============================================================================
-// Compatibility shim for existing code
+// Legacy name (backward compatibility)
 // ============================================================================
 
-/// ny_release_strong: Compatibility shim
+/// ny_release_strong: Legacy name (backward compatibility)
 ///
-/// Legacy name for nyrt_handle_release_h.
-/// New code should use nyrt_handle_release_h directly.
+/// Original name from Phase 287. Kept for backward compatibility with existing
+/// LLVM lowering code. Equivalent to nyrt_handle_release_h.
 ///
-/// # Deprecation
-/// This function is kept for backward compatibility with existing LLVM lowering.
-/// Future phases will migrate callers to nyrt_handle_release_h.
+/// New code should prefer nyrt_handle_release_h for clarity.
 #[no_mangle]
-pub extern "C" fn ny_release_strong_shim(handle: i64) {
+pub extern "C" fn ny_release_strong(handle: i64) {
     nyrt_handle_release_h(handle);
 }
diff --git a/crates/nyash_kernel/src/lib.rs b/crates/nyash_kernel/src/lib.rs
index c93bcd19..9b1d5d45 100644
--- a/crates/nyash_kernel/src/lib.rs
+++ b/crates/nyash_kernel/src/lib.rs
@@ -713,17 +713,6 @@ pub extern "C" fn ny_check_safepoint() {
     nyash_rust::runtime::global_hooks::safepoint_and_poll();
 }
 
-// export: ny_release_strong(handle: i64) -> void
-// Phase 287: Release strong reference for variable overwrite semantics
-#[no_mangle]
-pub extern "C" fn ny_release_strong(handle: i64) {
-    if handle > 0 {
-        // Drop the handle - this decrements the reference count
-        // and may trigger deallocation if count reaches zero
-        nyash_rust::runtime::host_handles::drop_handle(handle as u64);
-    }
-}
-
 #[export_name = "nyash.string.birth_h"]
 pub extern "C" fn nyash_string_birth_h_export() -> i64 {
     // Create a new StringBox via unified plugin host; return runtime handle as i64