diff --git a/jax/_src/numpy/lax_numpy.py b/jax/_src/numpy/lax_numpy.py
index c69de586c920..91c7af983f74 100644
--- a/jax/_src/numpy/lax_numpy.py
+++ b/jax/_src/numpy/lax_numpy.py
@@ -3440,7 +3440,6 @@ def einsum(
     optimize: str = "optimal",
     precision: PrecisionLike = None,
     preferred_element_type: DTypeLike | None = None,
-    _use_xeinsum: bool = False,
     _dot_general: Callable[..., Array] = lax.dot_general,
 ) -> Array: ...
 
@@ -3453,7 +3452,6 @@ def einsum(
     optimize: str = "optimal",
     precision: PrecisionLike = None,
     preferred_element_type: DTypeLike | None = None,
-    _use_xeinsum: bool = False,
     _dot_general: Callable[..., Array] = lax.dot_general,
 ) -> Array: ...
 
@@ -3465,20 +3463,15 @@ def einsum(
     optimize: str = "optimal",
     precision: PrecisionLike = None,
     preferred_element_type: DTypeLike | None = None,
-    _use_xeinsum: bool = False,
     _dot_general: Callable[..., Array] = lax.dot_general,
 ) -> Array:
   operands = (subscripts, *operands)
   if out is not None:
     raise NotImplementedError("The 'out' argument to jnp.einsum is not supported.")
-
   spec = operands[0] if isinstance(operands[0], str) else None
-
-  if (_use_xeinsum or spec is not None and '{' in spec):
+  if spec is not None and '{' in spec:
     return jax.named_call(lax.xeinsum, name=spec)(*operands)
-
   optimize = 'optimal' if optimize is True else optimize
-  # using einsum_call=True here is an internal api for opt_einsum
 
   # Allow handling of shape polymorphism
   non_constant_dim_types = {
@@ -3490,6 +3483,7 @@ def einsum(
   else:
     ty = next(iter(non_constant_dim_types))
     contract_path = _poly_einsum_handlers.get(ty, _default_poly_einsum_handler)
+  # using einsum_call=True here is an internal api for opt_einsum... sorry
   operands, contractions = contract_path(
         *operands, einsum_call=True, use_blas=True, optimize=optimize)
 
diff --git a/tests/xmap_test.py b/tests/xmap_test.py
index d93f2c5a59f9..5264af3f3d9c 100644
--- a/tests/xmap_test.py
+++ b/tests/xmap_test.py
@@ -1491,7 +1491,7 @@ def test_xeinsum_no_named_axes_vector_dot(self):
     rng = self.rng()
     x = rng.randn(3)
     y = rng.randn(3)
-    out = jnp.einsum('i,i->', x, y, _use_xeinsum=True)
+    out = jnp.einsum('i,i->', x, y)
     expected = np.einsum('i,i->', x, y)
     self.assertAllClose(out, expected, check_dtypes=False)
 
@@ -1499,7 +1499,7 @@ def test_xeinsum_no_named_axes_batch_vector_dot(self):
     rng = self.rng()
     x = rng.randn(3, 2)
     y = rng.randn(3, 2)
-    out = jnp.einsum('ij,ij->i', x, y, _use_xeinsum=True)
+    out = lax.xeinsum('ij,ij->i', x, y)
     expected = np.einsum('ij,ij->i', x, y)
     self.assertAllClose(out, expected, check_dtypes=True)
 
@@ -1508,7 +1508,7 @@ def test_xeinsum_no_named_axes_batch_matmul(self):
     rng = np.random.RandomState(0)
     x = rng.randn(3, 5, 4)
     y = rng.randn(3, 4, 2)
-    out = jnp.einsum('bij,bjk->bik', x, y, _use_xeinsum=True)
+    out = lax.xeinsum('bij,bjk->bik', x, y)
     expected = np.einsum('bij,bjk->bik', x, y)
     self.assertAllClose(out, expected, check_dtypes=True)
 
@@ -1516,7 +1516,7 @@ def test_xeinsum_no_named_axes_reduce_sum(self):
     rng = self.rng()
     x = rng.randn(3)
     y = rng.randn()
-    out = jnp.einsum('i,->', x, y, _use_xeinsum=True)
+    out = lax.xeinsum('i,->', x, y)
     expected = np.einsum('i,->', x, y)
     self.assertAllClose(out, expected, check_dtypes=True)
 
@@ -1526,7 +1526,7 @@ def test_xeinsum_no_named_axes_reduce_and_contract(self):
     rng = np.random.RandomState(0)
     x = rng.randn(3, 5, 4)
     y = rng.randn(2, 4, 2)
-    out = jnp.einsum('bij,cjk->ik', x, y, _use_xeinsum=True)
+    out = lax.xeinsum('bij,cjk->ik', x, y)
     expected = np.einsum('bij,cjk->ik', x, y)
     self.assertAllClose(out, expected, check_dtypes=True)