diff --git a/distribution/build.gradle b/distribution/build.gradle
index 4bab19ffd4ec..d3384069283f 100644
--- a/distribution/build.gradle
+++ b/distribution/build.gradle
@@ -530,8 +530,6 @@ configure(subprojects.findAll { ['archives', 'packages'].contains(it.name) }) {
  *  <dt>path.env</dt>
  *  <dd>The env file sourced before bin/elasticsearch to set environment
  *    variables. Think /etc/defaults/elasticsearch.</dd>
- *  <dt>heap.min and heap.max</dt>
- *  <dd>Default min and max heap</dd>
  *  <dt>scripts.footer</dt>
  *  <dd>Footer appended to control scripts embedded in the distribution that is
  *    (almost) entirely there for cosmetic reasons.</dd>
@@ -543,7 +541,6 @@ configure(subprojects.findAll { ['archives', 'packages'].contains(it.name) }) {
  */
 subprojects {
   ext.expansionsForDistribution = { distributionType, oss, jdk ->
-    final String defaultHeapSize = "1g"
     final String packagingPathData = "path.data: /var/lib/elasticsearch"
     final String pathLogs = "/var/log/elasticsearch"
     final String packagingPathLogs = "path.logs: ${pathLogs}"
@@ -597,9 +594,6 @@ subprojects {
         'def': 'logs/gc.log'
       ],
 
-      'heap.min': defaultHeapSize,
-      'heap.max': defaultHeapSize,
-
       'heap.dump.path': [
         'deb': "-XX:HeapDumpPath=/var/lib/elasticsearch",
         'rpm': "-XX:HeapDumpPath=/var/lib/elasticsearch",