diff --git a/holder.go b/holder.go
index efaec5785..67c12e887 100644
--- a/holder.go
+++ b/holder.go
@@ -1161,9 +1161,6 @@ func (h *Holder) createIndex(cim *CreateIndexMessage, broadcast bool) (*Index, e
 	if err = index.Open(); err != nil {
 		return nil, errors.Wrap(err, "opening")
 	}
-	if err = index.saveMeta(); err != nil {
-		return nil, errors.Wrap(err, "meta")
-	}
 
 	// Update options.
 	h.addIndex(index)
diff --git a/index.go b/index.go
index cfa1ecd2a..581c42949 100644
--- a/index.go
+++ b/index.go
@@ -17,7 +17,6 @@ package pilosa
 import (
 	"context"
 	"fmt"
-	"io/ioutil"
 	"os"
 	"path/filepath"
 	"sort"
@@ -25,9 +24,7 @@ import (
 	"sync"
 	"time"
 
-	"github.com/gogo/protobuf/proto"
 	"github.com/pilosa/pilosa/v2/disco"
-	"github.com/pilosa/pilosa/v2/internal"
 	"github.com/pilosa/pilosa/v2/roaring"
 	"github.com/pilosa/pilosa/v2/stats"
 	"github.com/pilosa/pilosa/v2/testhook"
@@ -417,25 +414,6 @@ func (i *Index) openExistenceField() error {
 	return nil
 }
 
-// saveMeta writes meta data for the index.
-func (i *Index) saveMeta() error {
-	// Marshal metadata.
-	buf, err := proto.Marshal(&internal.IndexMeta{
-		Keys:           i.keys,
-		TrackExistence: i.trackExistence,
-	})
-	if err != nil {
-		return errors.Wrap(err, "marshalling")
-	}
-
-	// Write to meta file.
-	if err := ioutil.WriteFile(filepath.Join(i.path, ".meta"), buf, 0666); err != nil {
-		return errors.Wrap(err, "writing")
-	}
-
-	return nil
-}
-
 // Close closes the index and its fields.
 func (i *Index) Close() error {
 
@@ -797,6 +775,11 @@ func (i *Index) DeleteField(name string) error {
 	i.mu.Lock()
 	defer i.mu.Unlock()
 
+	// Disallow deleting the existence field.
+	if name == existenceFieldName {
+		return newNotFoundError(ErrFieldNotFound, existenceFieldName)
+	}
+
 	// Confirm field exists.
 	f := i.field(name)
 	if f == nil {
@@ -812,18 +795,6 @@ func (i *Index) DeleteField(name string) error {
 		return errors.Wrap(err, "Txf.DeleteFieldFromStore")
 	}
 
-	// If the field being deleted is the existence field,
-	// turn off existence tracking on the index.
-	if name == existenceFieldName {
-		i.trackExistence = false
-		i.existenceFld = nil
-
-		// Update meta data on disk.
-		if err := i.saveMeta(); err != nil {
-			return errors.Wrap(err, "saving existence meta data")
-		}
-	}
-
 	// Remove reference.
 	delete(i.fields, name)
 
diff --git a/index_internal_test.go b/index_internal_test.go
index faed407c5..909278b2b 100644
--- a/index_internal_test.go
+++ b/index_internal_test.go
@@ -52,40 +52,3 @@ func (i *Index) reopen() error {
 	}
 	return nil
 }
-
-// Ensure that deleting the existence field is handled properly.
-func TestIndex_Existence_Delete(t *testing.T) {
-	// Create Index (with existence tracking).
-	index := mustOpenIndex(t, IndexOptions{TrackExistence: true})
-	defer index.Close()
-
-	// Ensure existence field has been created.
-	ef := index.Field(existenceFieldName)
-	if ef == nil {
-		t.Fatalf("expected field to have been created: %s", existenceFieldName)
-	} else if !index.trackExistence {
-		t.Fatalf("expected index.trackExistence to be true")
-	} else if index.existenceFld == nil {
-		t.Fatalf("expected index.existenceField to be non-nil")
-	}
-
-	// Delete existence field.
-	if err := index.DeleteField(existenceFieldName); err != nil {
-		t.Fatal(err)
-	}
-
-	// Re-open index.
-	if err := index.reopen(); err != nil {
-		t.Fatal(err)
-	}
-
-	// Ensure existence field no longer exists.
-	ef = index.Field(existenceFieldName)
-	if ef != nil {
-		t.Fatalf("expected field to have been deleted: %s", existenceFieldName)
-	} else if index.trackExistence {
-		t.Fatalf("expected index.trackExistence to be false")
-	} else if index.existenceFld != nil {
-		t.Fatalf("expected index.existenceField to be nil")
-	}
-}