diff --git a/R/req-perform-connection.R b/R/req-perform-connection.R
index c172b3b7..acca9d73 100644
--- a/R/req-perform-connection.R
+++ b/R/req-perform-connection.R
@@ -140,9 +140,7 @@ req_perform_connection1 <- function(req, handle, blocking = TRUE) {
   }
 
   curl_data <- curl::handle_data(handle)
-
-  the$last_response <- create_response(req, curl_data, body)
-  the$last_response
+  create_response(req, curl_data, body)
 }
 
 # Make open mockable
diff --git a/R/req-perform.R b/R/req-perform.R
index a89b69c9..ca3115ad 100644
--- a/R/req-perform.R
+++ b/R/req-perform.R
@@ -190,8 +190,7 @@ req_perform1 <- function(req, path = NULL, handle = NULL) {
   curl::handle_setopt(handle, cookielist = "FLUSH")
   curl::handle_setopt(handle, cookiefile = NULL, cookiejar = NULL)
 
-  the$last_response <- create_response(req, fetch$curl_data, fetch$body)
-  the$last_response
+  create_response(req, fetch$curl_data, fetch$body)
 }
 
 curl_fetch <- function(handle, url, path) {