diff --git a/index.js b/index.js
index 68a58e9..4a7581f 100644
--- a/index.js
+++ b/index.js
@@ -1,8 +1,5 @@
 var assert = require('assert')
 var morph = require('./lib/morph')
-var rootLabelRegex = /^data-onloadid/
-
-var ELEMENT_NODE = 1
 
 module.exports = nanomorph
 
@@ -22,8 +19,6 @@ module.exports = nanomorph
 function nanomorph (oldTree, newTree) {
   assert.equal(typeof oldTree, 'object', 'nanomorph: oldTree should be an object')
   assert.equal(typeof newTree, 'object', 'nanomorph: newTree should be an object')
-
-  persistStatefulRoot(newTree, oldTree)
   var tree = walk(newTree, oldTree)
   return tree
 }
@@ -87,17 +82,3 @@ function updateChildren (newNode, oldNode) {
     newIndex = newStartIndex
   }
 }
-
-function persistStatefulRoot (newNode, oldNode) {
-  if (!newNode || !oldNode || oldNode.nodeType !== ELEMENT_NODE || newNode.nodeType !== ELEMENT_NODE) return
-  var oldAttrs = oldNode.attributes
-  var attr, name
-  for (var i = 0, len = oldAttrs.length; i < len; i++) {
-    attr = oldAttrs[i]
-    name = attr.name
-    if (rootLabelRegex.test(name)) {
-      newNode.setAttribute(name, attr.value)
-      break
-    }
-  }
-}
diff --git a/test.js b/test.js
index 09f6f17..f263bdd 100644
--- a/test.js
+++ b/test.js
@@ -229,29 +229,6 @@ function abstractMorph (morph) {
   })
 }
 
-tape('should skip over data-onload attributes at root', function (t) {
-  var a = html`
-    <section data-onloadidzina="o0">
-      <input data-onloadidzina="o1">
-    </section>
-  `
-  var b = html`
-    <section>
-      <input autofocus="autofocus" value="" class="f6 normal">
-      <button class="bg-light-gray white ttu">save</button>
-    </section>
-  `
-  var c = html`
-    <section data-onloadidzina="o0">
-      <input autofocus="autofocus" value="" class="f6 normal">
-      <button class="bg-light-gray white ttu">save</button>
-    </section>
-  `
-  var d = nanomorph(a, b)
-  t.ok(c.isEqualNode(d), 'is equal')
-  t.end()
-})
-
 tape('use id as a key hint', function (t) {
   t.test('append an element', function (t) {
     var a = html`<ul>