diff --git a/builtin/item.lua b/builtin/item.lua
index cefc90886..f85bd7223 100644
--- a/builtin/item.lua
+++ b/builtin/item.lua
@@ -362,11 +362,13 @@ minetest.nodedef_default = {
 	-- Node properties
 	drawtype = "normal",
 	visual_scale = 1.0,
-	tiles ={""},
-	special_tiles = {
-		{name="", backface_culling=true},
-		{name="", backface_culling=true},
-	},
+	-- Don't define these because otherwise the old tile_images and
+	-- special_materials wouldn't be read
+	--tiles ={""},
+	--special_tiles = {
+	--	{name="", backface_culling=true},
+	--	{name="", backface_culling=true},
+	--},
 	alpha = 255,
 	post_effect_color = {a=0, r=0, g=0, b=0},
 	paramtype = "none",