diff --git a/core/css.ts b/core/css.ts
index c7ae55397..d18d930a9 100644
--- a/core/css.ts
+++ b/core/css.ts
@@ -445,8 +445,7 @@ input[type=number] {
   cursor: inherit;
 }
 
-/* State: hover. */
-.blocklyMenuItemHighlight {
+.blocklyMenuItem:hover {
   background-color: rgba(0,0,0,.1);
 }
 
diff --git a/core/menu.ts b/core/menu.ts
index 6085d9274..f01c1edfb 100644
--- a/core/menu.ts
+++ b/core/menu.ts
@@ -249,11 +249,9 @@ export class Menu {
   setHighlighted(item: MenuItem | null) {
     const currentHighlighted = this.highlightedItem;
     if (currentHighlighted) {
-      currentHighlighted.setHighlighted(false);
       this.highlightedItem = null;
     }
     if (item) {
-      item.setHighlighted(true);
       this.highlightedItem = item;
       // Bring the highlighted item into view. This has no effect if the menu is
       // not scrollable.
diff --git a/core/menuitem.ts b/core/menuitem.ts
index 7fff1a72b..3d5b28b70 100644
--- a/core/menuitem.ts
+++ b/core/menuitem.ts
@@ -12,7 +12,6 @@
 // Former goog.module ID: Blockly.MenuItem
 
 import * as aria from './utils/aria.js';
-import * as dom from './utils/dom.js';
 import * as idGenerator from './utils/idgenerator.js';
 
 /**
@@ -68,7 +67,6 @@ export class MenuItem {
       'blocklyMenuItem ' +
       (this.enabled ? '' : 'blocklyMenuItemDisabled ') +
       (this.checked ? 'blocklyMenuItemSelected ' : '') +
-      (this.highlight ? 'blocklyMenuItemHighlight ' : '') +
       (this.rightToLeft ? 'blocklyMenuItemRtl ' : '');
 
     const content = document.createElement('div');
@@ -177,25 +175,6 @@ export class MenuItem {
     this.checked = checked;
   }
 
-  /**
-   * Highlights or unhighlights the component.
-   *
-   * @param highlight Whether to highlight or unhighlight the component.
-   * @internal
-   */
-  setHighlighted(highlight: boolean) {
-    this.highlight = highlight;
-    const el = this.getElement();
-    if (el && this.isEnabled()) {
-      const name = 'blocklyMenuItemHighlight';
-      if (highlight) {
-        dom.addClass(el, name);
-      } else {
-        dom.removeClass(el, name);
-      }
-    }
-  }
-
   /**
    * Returns true if the menu item is enabled, false otherwise.
    *