diff --git a/lib/index.js b/lib/index.js
index d25fd544..88ad4642 100644
--- a/lib/index.js
+++ b/lib/index.js
@@ -24,14 +24,3 @@ assign(fs, require('./ensure'))
 assign(fs, require('./output'))
 
 module.exports = fs
-
-// maintain backwards compatibility for awhile
-const jsonfile = {}
-Object.defineProperty(jsonfile, 'spaces', {
-  get: () => fs.spaces, // found in ./json
-  set: val => {
-    fs.spaces = val
-  }
-})
-
-module.exports.jsonfile = jsonfile // so users of fs-extra can modify jsonFile.spaces
diff --git a/lib/json/__tests__/jsonfile-integration.test.js b/lib/json/__tests__/jsonfile-integration.test.js
index 27f76654..dde424fc 100644
--- a/lib/json/__tests__/jsonfile-integration.test.js
+++ b/lib/json/__tests__/jsonfile-integration.test.js
@@ -25,15 +25,10 @@ describe('jsonfile-integration', () => {
         lastName: 'Richardson'
       }
 
-      const oldSpaces = fse.jsonfile.spaces
-      fse.jsonfile.spaces = 4
-
       const file = path.join(TEST_DIR, 'file.json')
       fse.writeJsonSync(file, obj1)
       const data = fs.readFileSync(file, 'utf8')
-      assert.strictEqual(data, JSON.stringify(obj1, null, 4) + '\n')
-
-      fse.jsonfile.spaces = oldSpaces
+      assert.strictEqual(data, JSON.stringify(obj1, null, 2) + '\n')
     })
   })
 })
diff --git a/lib/json/__tests__/spaces.test.js b/lib/json/__tests__/spaces.test.js
index ab428c87..27e863d0 100644
--- a/lib/json/__tests__/spaces.test.js
+++ b/lib/json/__tests__/spaces.test.js
@@ -20,9 +20,6 @@ describe('json spaces', () => {
   afterEach(done => fse.remove(TEST_DIR, done))
 
   it('should write out the file with appropriate spacing (2)', () => {
-    fse.spaces = 2 // for legacy compatibility
-    assert.strictEqual(fse.spaces, 2)
-
     const tempFile = path.join(TEST_DIR, 'temp.json')
 
     const data = { first: 'JP', last: 'Richardson' }
diff --git a/lib/json/jsonfile.js b/lib/json/jsonfile.js
index e3630ee8..8c03f04f 100644
--- a/lib/json/jsonfile.js
+++ b/lib/json/jsonfile.js
@@ -2,15 +2,21 @@
 
 const jsonFile = require('jsonfile')
 
+function write () {
+  jsonFile.writeFile.apply({ spaces: 2 }, arguments)
+}
+function writeSync () {
+  jsonFile.writeFileSync.apply({ spaces: 2 }, arguments)
+}
+
 module.exports = {
   // jsonfile exports
   readJson: jsonFile.readFile,
   readJSON: jsonFile.readFile,
   readJsonSync: jsonFile.readFileSync,
   readJSONSync: jsonFile.readFileSync,
-  writeJson: jsonFile.writeFile,
-  writeJSON: jsonFile.writeFile,
-  writeJsonSync: jsonFile.writeFileSync,
-  writeJSONSync: jsonFile.writeFileSync,
-  spaces: 2 // default in fs-extra
+  writeJson: write,
+  writeJSON: write,
+  writeJsonSync: writeSync,
+  writeJSONSync: writeSync
 }