diff --git a/src/db.ts b/src/db.ts
index 54724ae31b..0907b6f0a0 100644
--- a/src/db.ts
+++ b/src/db.ts
@@ -394,7 +394,6 @@ export class Db {
         toCollection,
         resolveOptions(undefined, {
           ...options,
-          new_collection: true,
           readPreference: ReadPreference.primary
         })
       ) as TODO_NODE_3286
diff --git a/src/operations/rename.ts b/src/operations/rename.ts
index 8969d27cde..9def985270 100644
--- a/src/operations/rename.ts
+++ b/src/operations/rename.ts
@@ -11,7 +11,12 @@ import { Aspect, defineAspects } from './operation';
 export interface RenameOptions extends Omit<CommandOperationOptions, 'rawData'> {
   /** Drop the target name collection if it previously exists. */
   dropTarget?: boolean;
-  /** Unclear */
+  /**
+   * @deprecated
+   *
+   * This option has been dead code since at least Node driver version 4.x. It will
+   * be removed in a future major release.
+   */
   new_collection?: boolean;
 }