diff --git a/typescript/packages/common-runner/src/doc.ts b/typescript/packages/common-runner/src/doc.ts
index af31a9956..f1e68068d 100644
--- a/typescript/packages/common-runner/src/doc.ts
+++ b/typescript/packages/common-runner/src/doc.ts
@@ -104,14 +104,6 @@ export type DocImpl<T> = {
    */
   updates(callback: (value: T, path: PropertyKey[]) => void): Cancel;
 
-  /**
-   * Add callback for updates. Will call immediately with current value.
-   *
-   * @param callback - Callback to call on updates.
-   * @returns Cancel function.
-   */
-  sink(callback: (value: T, path: PropertyKey[]) => void): Cancel;
-
   /**
    * Freeze cell, making it read-only.
    *
@@ -263,11 +255,6 @@ export function getDoc<T>(value?: T, cause?: any, space?: Space): DocImpl<T> {
       callbacks.add(callback);
       return () => callbacks.delete(callback);
     },
-    sink: (callback: (value: T, path: PropertyKey[]) => void) => {
-      callback(value as T, []);
-      callbacks.add(callback);
-      return () => callbacks.delete(callback);
-    },
     getAtPath: (path: PropertyKey[]) => getValueAtPath(value, path),
     setAtPath: (path: PropertyKey[], newValue: any, log?: ReactivityLog) => {
       if (readOnly) throw new Error("Cell is read-only");
diff --git a/typescript/packages/common-runner/src/reactivity.ts b/typescript/packages/common-runner/src/reactivity.ts
index d42eaf70f..3c5ddeae7 100644
--- a/typescript/packages/common-runner/src/reactivity.ts
+++ b/typescript/packages/common-runner/src/reactivity.ts
@@ -1,6 +1,5 @@
 import { Cancel, isCancel, noOp } from "./cancel.js";
 import { Cell, isCell } from "./cell.js";
-import { DocImpl, isDoc } from "./doc.js";
 
 /**
  * Effect that runs a callback when the value changes. The callback is also
@@ -12,12 +11,10 @@ import { DocImpl, isDoc } from "./doc.js";
  * @returns {function} - A function to cancel the effect.
  */
 export const effect = <T>(
-  value: Cell<T> | DocImpl<T> | T,
+  value: Cell<T> | T,
   callback: (value: T) => Cancel | undefined | void,
 ): Cancel => {
-  if (isDoc(value)) value = value.asCell();
-
-  if (isCell(value) || isDoc(value)) {
+  if (isCell(value)) {
     return value.sink(callback);
   } else {
     const cancel = callback(value as T);
diff --git a/typescript/packages/common-runner/test/cell.test.ts b/typescript/packages/common-runner/test/cell.test.ts
index d20a2e26f..becbacdfd 100644
--- a/typescript/packages/common-runner/test/cell.test.ts
+++ b/typescript/packages/common-runner/test/cell.test.ts
@@ -45,16 +45,16 @@ describe("Cell", () => {
     expect(c.get()).toEqual({ a: { b: { c: 100 } } });
   });
 
-  it("should sink changes", () => {
+  it("should call updates callback when value changes", () => {
     const c = getDoc(0);
     const values: number[] = [];
-    const unsink = c.sink((value) => values.push(value));
+    const unsink = c.updates((value) => values.push(value));
     c.send(1);
     c.send(2);
     c.send(3);
     unsink();
     c.send(4);
-    expect(values).toEqual([0, 1, 2, 3]);
+    expect(values).toEqual([1, 2, 3]);
   });
 });