diff --git a/rbf/cursor.go b/rbf/cursor.go
index 5ffcaddf7..4c1a05dbc 100644
--- a/rbf/cursor.go
+++ b/rbf/cursor.go
@@ -1386,24 +1386,8 @@ func (c *Cursor) difference(key uint64, data *roaring.Container) (bool, error) {
 }
 
 func (c *Cursor) Close() {
-	if c == nil {
-		panic("cannot Close nil Cursor")
-	} else if c.tx == nil || c.tx.db == nil {
-		return // already closed
-	}
-
-	tx := c.tx
-	c.tx = nil // allow tx to be garbage collected.
-
-	if tx.db.cfg.CursorCacheSize == 0 {
-		globalCursorSyncPool.Put(c)
-		return
-	}
-
-	select {
-	case tx.db.cursorArenaCh <- c:
-	case <-tx.db.cursorCleaner.ReqStop.Chan:
-	}
+	assert(c != nil)
+	cursorSyncPool.Put(c)
 }
 
 func keysFromParents(parents []branchCell) (ckeys []int) {
diff --git a/rbf/db.go b/rbf/db.go
index 6946fdc65..5976d5cc6 100644
--- a/rbf/db.go
+++ b/rbf/db.go
@@ -24,7 +24,6 @@ import (
 	"syscall"
 
 	"github.com/benbjohnson/immutable"
-	"github.com/glycerine/idem"
 	rbfcfg "github.com/pilosa/pilosa/v2/rbf/cfg"
 	"github.com/pilosa/pilosa/v2/syswrap"
 )
@@ -33,9 +32,9 @@ var (
 	ErrClosed = errors.New("rbf: database closed")
 )
 
-// global in the sense that it is shared among all instances
-// of rbf.DBs in this process. This is deliberate.
-var globalCursorSyncPool = &sync.Pool{
+// shared cursor pool across all DB instances.
+// Cursors are returned on Cursor.Close().
+var cursorSyncPool = &sync.Pool{
 	New: func() interface{} {
 		return &Cursor{}
 	},
@@ -63,9 +62,6 @@ type DB struct {
 
 	// Path represents the path to the database file.
 	Path string
-
-	cursorArenaCh chan *Cursor
-	cursorCleaner *idem.Halter
 }
 
 // NewDB returns a new instance of DB.
@@ -79,12 +75,6 @@ func NewDB(path string, cfg *rbfcfg.Config) *DB {
 		txs:     make(map[*Tx]struct{}),
 		pageMap: NewPageMap(),
 		Path:    path,
-
-		cursorArenaCh: make(chan *Cursor, cfg.CursorCacheSize),
-		cursorCleaner: idem.NewHalter(),
-	}
-	for i := int64(0); i < cfg.CursorCacheSize; i++ {
-		db.cursorArenaCh <- &Cursor{}
 	}
 	db.haltCond = sync.NewCond(&db.mu)
 
@@ -272,8 +262,6 @@ func (db *DB) Close() (err error) {
 	db.mu.Lock()
 	defer db.mu.Unlock()
 
-	defer db.cursorCleaner.RequestStop()
-
 	db.opened = false
 
 	// Close mmap handle.
@@ -580,24 +568,10 @@ func (db *DB) readMetaPage() ([]byte, error) {
 	return db.readDBPage(0)
 }
 
-func (db *DB) getCursor(tx *Tx) (c *Cursor) {
-	if db.cfg.CursorCacheSize == 0 {
-		c = globalCursorSyncPool.Get().(*Cursor)
-		c.tx = tx
-		return
-	}
-
-	n := len(db.cursorArenaCh)
-	if n < 10 {
-		vv("warning, db.cursorArenaCh is low! %v left", n)
-	}
-	select {
-	case c = <-db.cursorArenaCh:
-		c.tx = tx
-		return
-	case <-db.cursorCleaner.ReqStop.Chan:
-		return nil
-	}
+func (db *DB) getCursor(tx *Tx) *Cursor {
+	c := cursorSyncPool.Get().(*Cursor)
+	c.tx = tx
+	return c
 }
 
 // Shared pool for in-memory database pages.