diff --git a/src/backend/distributed/deparser/ruleutils_14.c b/src/backend/distributed/deparser/ruleutils_14.c
index 1c1c7576b..75b4b9115 100644
--- a/src/backend/distributed/deparser/ruleutils_14.c
+++ b/src/backend/distributed/deparser/ruleutils_14.c
@@ -1674,16 +1674,12 @@ set_deparse_plan(deparse_namespace *dpns, Plan *plan)
 	 * We special-case Append and MergeAppend to pretend that the first child
 	 * plan is the OUTER referent; we have to interpret OUTER Vars in their
 	 * tlists according to one of the children, and the first one is the most
-	 * natural choice.  Likewise special-case ModifyTable to pretend that the
-	 * first child plan is the OUTER referent; this is to support RETURNING
-	 * lists containing references to non-target relations.
+	 * natural choice.
 	 */
 	if (IsA(plan, Append))
 		dpns->outer_plan = linitial(((Append *) plan)->appendplans);
 	else if (IsA(plan, MergeAppend))
 		dpns->outer_plan = linitial(((MergeAppend *) plan)->mergeplans);
-	else if (IsA(plan, ModifyTable))
-		dpns->outer_plan = linitial(((ModifyTable *) plan)->plans);
 	else
 		dpns->outer_plan = outerPlan(plan);