diff --git a/ChangeLog.md b/ChangeLog.md
index fd7f53ca469a9..00244aac775fb 100644
--- a/ChangeLog.md
+++ b/ChangeLog.md
@@ -20,6 +20,8 @@ See docs/process.md for more on how version tagging works.
 
 5.0.3 (in development)
 ----------------------
+- The deprecated `EMSCRIPTEN` macro is now defined in emscripten.h rather than
+  on the command line. (#26417)
 - Warn on usage of the deprecated `EMSCRIPTEN` macro (`__EMSCRIPTEN__` should
   be used instead). (#26381)
 - The `-sRELOCATABLE` setting was effectively removed (moved to legacy
diff --git a/site/source/docs/tools_reference/settings_reference.rst b/site/source/docs/tools_reference/settings_reference.rst
index 89f79600b845c..1e103ea8a4d4d 100644
--- a/site/source/docs/tools_reference/settings_reference.rst
+++ b/site/source/docs/tools_reference/settings_reference.rst
@@ -1701,8 +1701,6 @@ Set the environment variable EMCC_STRICT=1 or pass -sSTRICT to test that a
 codebase builds nicely in forward compatible manner.
 Changes enabled by this:
 
-  - The C define EMSCRIPTEN is not defined (__EMSCRIPTEN__ always is, and
-    is the correct thing to use).
   - STRICT_JS is enabled.
   - IGNORE_MISSING_MAIN is disabled.
   - AUTO_JS_LIBRARIES is disabled.
diff --git a/src/settings.js b/src/settings.js
index e7148433a5f94..87f779c846023 100644
--- a/src/settings.js
+++ b/src/settings.js
@@ -1160,8 +1160,6 @@ var LINKABLE = false;
 // codebase builds nicely in forward compatible manner.
 // Changes enabled by this:
 //
-//   - The C define EMSCRIPTEN is not defined (__EMSCRIPTEN__ always is, and
-//     is the correct thing to use).
 //   - STRICT_JS is enabled.
 //   - IGNORE_MISSING_MAIN is disabled.
 //   - AUTO_JS_LIBRARIES is disabled.
diff --git a/test/core/test_core_types.c b/test/core/test_core_types.c
index 1dd736e5b4d51..ab471fe6f63a7 100644
--- a/test/core/test_core_types.c
+++ b/test/core/test_core_types.c
@@ -75,15 +75,6 @@
 #error __BIG_ENDIAN__ is defined
 #endif
 
-// We prefer to use __EMSCRIPTEN__, but for compatibility, we define
-// EMSCRIPTEN too.
-#if defined(IN_STRICT_MODE) && defined(EMSCRIPTEN)
-#error When compiling in -sSTRICT mode, EMSCRIPTEN should not be defined, but it was!
-#endif
-#if !defined(IN_STRICT_MODE) && !defined(EMSCRIPTEN)
-#error EMSCRIPTEN is not defined
-#endif
-
 #include <stdalign.h>
 #include <stdint.h>
 #include <stddef.h>
diff --git a/test/test_core.py b/test/test_core.py
index a55bf02c9b970..14cfdfa21dda2 100644
--- a/test/test_core.py
+++ b/test/test_core.py
@@ -677,8 +677,6 @@ def test_sha1(self):
     self.do_runf('third_party/sha1.c', 'SHA1=15dd99a1991e0b3826fede3deffc1feba42278e6')
 
   def test_core_types(self):
-    if self.get_setting('STRICT'):
-      self.cflags += ['-DIN_STRICT_MODE=1']
     self.do_runf('core/test_core_types.c')
 
   def test_cube2md5(self):
diff --git a/test/test_other.py b/test/test_other.py
index 7ba92eb07b506..99b4232b96c5a 100644
--- a/test/test_other.py
+++ b/test/test_other.py
@@ -11303,17 +11303,6 @@ def test_EMSCRIPTEN_macro(self):
     self.assert_fail([EMCC, '-Werror', 'src.c', '-c'], "'EMSCRIPTEN' has been marked as deprecated: use __EMSCRIPTEN__ instead")
     self.assert_fail([EMCC, '-sSTRICT', '-Werror', 'src.c', '-c'], "'EMSCRIPTEN' has been marked as deprecated: use __EMSCRIPTEN__ instead")
 
-  def test_EMSCRIPTEN_and_STRICT(self):
-    # __EMSCRIPTEN__ is the proper define; we support EMSCRIPTEN for legacy
-    # code, unless STRICT is enabled.
-    create_file('src.c', '''
-      #ifndef EMSCRIPTEN
-      #error "not defined"
-      #endif
-    ''')
-    self.run_process([EMCC, 'src.c', '-c'])
-    self.expect_fail([EMCC, 'src.c', '-sSTRICT', '-c'])
-
   def test_exception_settings(self):
     for catching, throwing, opts in itertools.product([0, 1], repeat=3):
       cmd = [EMXX, test_file('other/exceptions_modes_symbols_defined.cpp'), '-sDISABLE_EXCEPTION_THROWING=%d' % (1 - throwing), '-sDISABLE_EXCEPTION_CATCHING=%d' % (1 - catching), '-O%d' % opts]
diff --git a/tools/compile.py b/tools/compile.py
index ebff36258ab62..37fadfe61b3ac 100644
--- a/tools/compile.py
+++ b/tools/compile.py
@@ -96,11 +96,6 @@ def get_cflags(user_args):
   if settings.WASM_WORKERS:
     cflags.append('-D__EMSCRIPTEN_WASM_WORKERS__=1')
 
-  if not settings.STRICT:
-    # The preprocessor define EMSCRIPTEN is deprecated. Don't pass it to code
-    # in strict mode. Code should use the define __EMSCRIPTEN__ instead.
-    cflags.append('-DEMSCRIPTEN')
-
   ports.add_cflags(cflags, settings)
 
   def array_contains_any_of(hay, needles):