diff --git a/collects/mzlib/etc.rkt b/collects/mzlib/etc.rkt
index bb72508e63..376d0a8bb9 100644
--- a/collects/mzlib/etc.rkt
+++ b/collects/mzlib/etc.rkt
@@ -2,8 +2,10 @@
 
 (require setup/main-collects
          racket/local
-         racket/bool 
+         racket/bool
          racket/block
+         (only racket/function
+               identity)
          (only scheme/base
                build-string
                build-list
@@ -51,8 +53,6 @@
 
          begin-lifted)
 
-(define identity (lambda (x) x))
-
 (define (loop-until start done? next body)
   (let loop ([i start])
     (unless (done? i)