diff --git a/packages/babel-traverse/src/path/removal.js b/packages/babel-traverse/src/path/removal.js
index 9ddf0a201448..85123863762f 100644
--- a/packages/babel-traverse/src/path/removal.js
+++ b/packages/babel-traverse/src/path/removal.js
@@ -7,7 +7,9 @@ export function remove() {
   this._assertUnremoved();
 
   this.resync();
-  this._removeFromScope();
+  if (!this.opts || !this.opts.noScope) {
+    this._removeFromScope();
+  }
 
   if (this._callRemovalHooks()) {
     this._markRemoved();
diff --git a/packages/babel-traverse/test/removal.js b/packages/babel-traverse/test/removal.js
index f500eb37ddd0..46ad1a438ca9 100644
--- a/packages/babel-traverse/test/removal.js
+++ b/packages/babel-traverse/test/removal.js
@@ -33,4 +33,16 @@ describe("removal", function() {
       expect(generateCode(rootPath)).toBe("x = () => {};");
     });
   });
+
+  it("remove with noScope", function() {
+    const ast = parse("a=1");
+    traverse(ast, {
+      AssignmentExpression: function(path) {
+        path.remove();
+      },
+      noScope: true,
+    });
+
+    expect(generate(ast).code).toBe("");
+  });
 });