diff --git a/artiq/compiler/analyses/domination.py b/artiq/compiler/analyses/domination.py
index 8963cf189..7fbd4d231 100644
--- a/artiq/compiler/analyses/domination.py
+++ b/artiq/compiler/analyses/domination.py
@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@ from functools import reduce, cmp_to_key
 #   also dominates node n
 class DominatorTree:
     def __init__(self, func):
-        entry = func.get_entry()
+        entry = func.entry()
 
         self.dominated_by = { entry: {entry} }
         for block in func.basic_blocks:
@@ -28,10 +28,6 @@ class DominatorTree:
                 if block == entry:
                     continue
 
-                if not any(predecessors[block]):
-                    # Unreachable blocks are dominated by everything
-                    continue
-
                 new_dominated_by = {block}.union(
                     reduce(lambda a, b: a.intersection(b),
                            (self.dominated_by[pred] for pred in predecessors[block])))
@@ -41,8 +37,3 @@ class DominatorTree:
 
             if not changed:
                 break
-
-    def in_domination_order(self):
-        blocks = list(self.dominated_by.keys())
-        blocks.sort(key=cmp_to_key(lambda a, b: a in self.dominated_by[b]))
-        return blocks
diff --git a/artiq/compiler/ir.py b/artiq/compiler/ir.py
index ad36fbbeb..1aaf0d97f 100644
--- a/artiq/compiler/ir.py
+++ b/artiq/compiler/ir.py
@@ -261,6 +261,11 @@ class BasicBlock(NamedValue):
         if self.function is not None:
             self.function.remove(self)
 
+    def erase(self):
+        for insn in self.instructions:
+            insn.erase()
+        self.remove_from_parent()
+
     def prepend(self, insn):
         assert isinstance(insn, Instruction)
         insn.set_basic_block(self)
@@ -386,7 +391,7 @@ class Function:
         basic_block._detach()
         self.basic_blocks.remove(basic_block)
 
-    def get_entry(self):
+    def entry(self):
         assert any(self.basic_blocks)
         return self.basic_blocks[0]
 
diff --git a/artiq/compiler/transforms/__init__.py b/artiq/compiler/transforms/__init__.py
index 4f059a686..64dca0906 100644
--- a/artiq/compiler/transforms/__init__.py
+++ b/artiq/compiler/transforms/__init__.py
@@ -2,3 +2,4 @@ from .asttyped_rewriter import ASTTypedRewriter
 from .inferencer import Inferencer
 from .int_monomorphizer import IntMonomorphizer
 from .ir_generator import IRGenerator
+from .dead_code_eliminator import DeadCodeEliminator
diff --git a/artiq/compiler/transforms/dead_code_eliminator.py b/artiq/compiler/transforms/dead_code_eliminator.py
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..92d82b4a7
--- /dev/null
+++ b/artiq/compiler/transforms/dead_code_eliminator.py
@@ -0,0 +1,19 @@
+"""
+:class:`DeadCodeEliminator` is a very simple dead code elimination
+transform: it only removes basic blocks with no predecessors.
+"""
+
+from .. import ir
+
+class DeadCodeEliminator:
+    def __init__(self, engine):
+        self.engine = engine
+
+    def process(self, functions):
+        for func in functions:
+            self.process_function(func)
+
+    def process_function(self, func):
+        for block in func.basic_blocks:
+            if not any(block.predecessors()) and block != func.entry():
+                block.erase()