diff --git a/doc/api/doxy-api.conf b/doc/api/doxy-api.conf
index 5a71a76fde..da03e9b877 100644
--- a/doc/api/doxy-api.conf
+++ b/doc/api/doxy-api.conf
@@ -59,8 +59,7 @@ INPUT                   = doc/api/doxy-api-index.md \
 FILE_PATTERNS           = rte_*.h \
                           cmdline.h
 PREDEFINED              = __DOXYGEN__ \
-                          __attribute__(x)= \
-                          RTE_MBUF_REFCNT
+                          __attribute__(x)=
 
 OPTIMIZE_OUTPUT_FOR_C   = YES
 ENABLE_PREPROCESSING    = YES
diff --git a/doc/guides/nics/ixgbe.rst b/doc/guides/nics/ixgbe.rst
index d2c124ec48..70cd591531 100644
--- a/doc/guides/nics/ixgbe.rst
+++ b/doc/guides/nics/ixgbe.rst
@@ -168,8 +168,6 @@ When CONFIG_RTE_IXGBE_RX_OLFLAGS_DISABLE=y, better performance can be achieved:
 
     ./x86_64-native-linuxapp-gcc/app/testpmd -c 300 -n 4 -- -i --burst=32 --rxfreet=32 --mbcache=250 --txpt=32 --rxht=8 --rxwt=0 --txfreet=32 --txrst=32 --txqflags=0xf01 --disable-hw-vlan
 
-If scatter gather lists are not required, set CONFIG_RTE_MBUF_SCATTER_GATHER=n for better throughput.
-
 l3fwd
 ^^^^^
 
diff --git a/doc/guides/prog_guide/ip_fragment_reassembly_lib.rst b/doc/guides/prog_guide/ip_fragment_reassembly_lib.rst
index d17daa79db..7d6bdaa6fe 100644
--- a/doc/guides/prog_guide/ip_fragment_reassembly_lib.rst
+++ b/doc/guides/prog_guide/ip_fragment_reassembly_lib.rst
@@ -54,7 +54,6 @@ Finally 'direct' and 'indirect' mbufs for each fragnemt are linked together via
 
 The caller has an ability to explicitly specify which mempools should be used to allocate 'direct' and 'indirect' mbufs from.
 
-Note that configuration macro RTE_MBUF_SCATTER_GATHER has to be enabled to make fragmentation library build and work correctly.
 For more information about direct and indirect mbufs, refer to the *DPDK Programmers guide 7.7 Direct and Indirect Buffers.*
 
 Packet reassembly
diff --git a/doc/guides/sample_app_ug/vhost.rst b/doc/guides/sample_app_ug/vhost.rst
index cd9b232239..8a7eb3b840 100644
--- a/doc/guides/sample_app_ug/vhost.rst
+++ b/doc/guides/sample_app_ug/vhost.rst
@@ -336,28 +336,6 @@ Compiling the Sample Code
 
 #.  Build the application:
 
-    .. code-block:: console
-
-        make
-
-    .. note::
-
-        Note For zero copy, need firstly disable CONFIG_RTE_MBUF_SCATTER_GATHER,
-        CONFIG_RTE_LIBRTE_IP_FRAG and CONFIG_RTE_LIBRTE_DISTRIBUTOR
-        in the config file and then re-configure and compile the core lib, and then build the application:
-
-    .. code-block:: console
-
-        vi ${RTE_SDK}/config/common_linuxapp
-
-    change it as follows:
-
-    ::
-
-        CONFIG_RTE_MBUF_SCATTER_GATHER=n
-        CONFIG_RTE_LIBRTE_IP_FRAG=n
-        CONFIG_RTE_LIBRTE_DISTRIBUTOR=n
-
     .. code-block:: console
 
         cd ${RTE_SDK}
diff --git a/lib/librte_ether/rte_ether.h b/lib/librte_ether/rte_ether.h
index bafeb2b8e4..49f457617d 100644
--- a/lib/librte_ether/rte_ether.h
+++ b/lib/librte_ether/rte_ether.h
@@ -383,7 +383,6 @@ static inline int rte_vlan_insert(struct rte_mbuf **m)
 	struct ether_hdr *oh, *nh;
 	struct vlan_hdr *vh;
 
-#ifdef RTE_MBUF_REFCNT
 	/* Can't insert header if mbuf is shared */
 	if (rte_mbuf_refcnt_read(*m) > 1) {
 		struct rte_mbuf *copy;
@@ -394,7 +393,7 @@ static inline int rte_vlan_insert(struct rte_mbuf **m)
 		rte_pktmbuf_free(*m);
 		*m = copy;
 	}
-#endif
+
 	oh = rte_pktmbuf_mtod(*m, struct ether_hdr *);
 	nh = (struct ether_hdr *)
 		rte_pktmbuf_prepend(*m, sizeof(struct vlan_hdr));
diff --git a/lib/librte_mbuf/rte_mbuf.h b/lib/librte_mbuf/rte_mbuf.h
index 02651729a6..45f73c2b6e 100644
--- a/lib/librte_mbuf/rte_mbuf.h
+++ b/lib/librte_mbuf/rte_mbuf.h
@@ -64,8 +64,9 @@
 extern "C" {
 #endif
 
-/* deprecated feature, renamed in RTE_MBUF_REFCNT */
+/* deprecated options */
 #pragma GCC poison RTE_MBUF_SCATTER_GATHER
+#pragma GCC poison RTE_MBUF_REFCNT
 
 /*
  * Packet Offload Features Flags. It also carry packet type information.