diff --git a/bin/delv/delv.c b/bin/delv/delv.c
index 3c92ebf2e5..ae8433f24e 100644
--- a/bin/delv/delv.c
+++ b/bin/delv/delv.c
@@ -1781,8 +1781,8 @@ main(int argc, char *argv[]) {
 #endif /* ifndef WIN32 */
 
 	/* Create client */
-	result = dns_client_createx(mctx, actx, taskmgr, socketmgr, timermgr, 0,
-				    &client, srcaddr4, srcaddr6);
+	result = dns_client_create(mctx, actx, taskmgr, socketmgr, timermgr, 0,
+				   &client, srcaddr4, srcaddr6);
 	if (result != ISC_R_SUCCESS) {
 		delv_log(ISC_LOG_ERROR, "dns_client_create: %s",
 			 isc_result_totext(result));
@@ -1802,7 +1802,7 @@ main(int argc, char *argv[]) {
 	CHECK(convert_name(&qfn, &query_name, qname));
 
 	/* Set up resolution options */
-	resopt = DNS_CLIENTRESOPT_ALLOWRUN | DNS_CLIENTRESOPT_NOCDFLAG;
+	resopt = DNS_CLIENTRESOPT_NOCDFLAG;
 	if (no_sigs) {
 		resopt |= DNS_CLIENTRESOPT_NODNSSEC;
 	}
diff --git a/lib/dns/client.c b/lib/dns/client.c
index ee63e8a21c..2dafddea72 100644
--- a/lib/dns/client.c
+++ b/lib/dns/client.c
@@ -105,8 +105,6 @@ struct dns_client {
 #define DEF_FIND_TIMEOUT    5
 #define DEF_FIND_UDPRETRIES 3
 
-#define DNS_CLIENTATTR_OWNCTX 0x01
-
 /*%
  * Internal state for a single name resolution procedure
  */
@@ -292,13 +290,13 @@ createview(isc_mem_t *mctx, dns_rdataclass_t rdclass, isc_taskmgr_t *taskmgr,
 }
 
 isc_result_t
-dns_client_createx(isc_mem_t *mctx, isc_appctx_t *actx, isc_taskmgr_t *taskmgr,
-		   isc_socketmgr_t *socketmgr, isc_timermgr_t *timermgr,
-		   unsigned int options, dns_client_t **clientp,
-		   const isc_sockaddr_t *localaddr4,
-		   const isc_sockaddr_t *localaddr6) {
-	dns_client_t *client;
+dns_client_create(isc_mem_t *mctx, isc_appctx_t *actx, isc_taskmgr_t *taskmgr,
+		  isc_socketmgr_t *socketmgr, isc_timermgr_t *timermgr,
+		  unsigned int options, dns_client_t **clientp,
+		  const isc_sockaddr_t *localaddr4,
+		  const isc_sockaddr_t *localaddr6) {
 	isc_result_t result;
+	dns_client_t *client = NULL;
 	dns_dispatchmgr_t *dispatchmgr = NULL;
 	dns_dispatch_t *dispatchv4 = NULL;
 	dns_dispatch_t *dispatchv6 = NULL;
@@ -434,19 +432,6 @@ destroyclient(dns_client_t *client) {
 
 	isc_task_detach(&client->task);
 
-	/*
-	 * If the client has created its own running environments,
-	 * destroy them.
-	 */
-	if ((client->attributes & DNS_CLIENTATTR_OWNCTX) != 0) {
-		isc_taskmgr_destroy(&client->taskmgr);
-		isc_timermgr_destroy(&client->timermgr);
-		isc_socketmgr_destroy(&client->socketmgr);
-
-		isc_app_ctxfinish(client->actx);
-		isc_appctx_destroy(&client->actx);
-	}
-
 	isc_mutex_destroy(&client->lock);
 	client->magic = 0;
 
@@ -1042,35 +1027,22 @@ dns_client_resolve(dns_client_t *client, const dns_name_t *name,
 		   dns_rdataclass_t rdclass, dns_rdatatype_t type,
 		   unsigned int options, dns_namelist_t *namelist) {
 	isc_result_t result;
-	isc_appctx_t *actx;
 	resarg_t *resarg;
 
 	REQUIRE(DNS_CLIENT_VALID(client));
+	REQUIRE(client->actx != NULL);
 	REQUIRE(namelist != NULL && ISC_LIST_EMPTY(*namelist));
 
-	if ((client->attributes & DNS_CLIENTATTR_OWNCTX) == 0 &&
-	    (options & DNS_CLIENTRESOPT_ALLOWRUN) == 0)
-	{
-		/*
-		 * If the client is run under application's control, we need
-		 * to create a new running (sub)environment for this
-		 * particular resolution.
-		 */
-		return (ISC_R_NOTIMPLEMENTED); /* XXXTBD */
-	} else {
-		actx = client->actx;
-	}
-
 	resarg = isc_mem_get(client->mctx, sizeof(*resarg));
 
 	isc_mutex_init(&resarg->lock);
+	*resarg = (resarg_t){
+		.actx = client->actx,
+		.client = client,
+		.result = DNS_R_SERVFAIL,
+		.namelist = namelist,
+	};
 
-	resarg->actx = actx;
-	resarg->client = client;
-	resarg->result = DNS_R_SERVFAIL;
-	resarg->namelist = namelist;
-	resarg->trans = NULL;
-	resarg->canceled = false;
 	result = dns_client_startresolve(client, name, rdclass, type, options,
 					 client->task, resolve_done, resarg,
 					 &resarg->trans);
@@ -1084,7 +1056,7 @@ dns_client_resolve(dns_client_t *client, const dns_name_t *name,
 	 * Start internal event loop.  It blocks until the entire process
 	 * is completed.
 	 */
-	result = isc_app_ctxrun(actx);
+	result = isc_app_ctxrun(client->actx);
 
 	LOCK(&resarg->lock);
 	if (result == ISC_R_SUCCESS || result == ISC_R_SUSPEND) {
diff --git a/lib/dns/include/dns/client.h b/lib/dns/include/dns/client.h
index f7870e412f..79fb13b5a1 100644
--- a/lib/dns/include/dns/client.h
+++ b/lib/dns/include/dns/client.h
@@ -67,7 +67,7 @@ ISC_LANG_BEGINDECLS
 /*%< Do not return DNSSEC data (e.g. RRSIGS) with response. */
 #define DNS_CLIENTRESOPT_NODNSSEC 0x01
 /*%< Allow running external context. */
-#define DNS_CLIENTRESOPT_ALLOWRUN 0x02
+#define DNS_CLIENTRESOPT_RESERVED 0x02
 /*%< Don't validate responses. */
 #define DNS_CLIENTRESOPT_NOVALIDATE 0x04
 /*%< Don't set the CD flag on upstream queries. */
@@ -79,7 +79,7 @@ ISC_LANG_BEGINDECLS
  * Optional flags for dns_client_(start)request.
  */
 /*%< Allow running external context. */
-#define DNS_CLIENTREQOPT_ALLOWRUN 0x01
+#define DNS_CLIENTREQOPT_RESERVED 0x01
 /*%< Use TCP transport. */
 #define DNS_CLIENTREQOPT_TCP 0x02
 
@@ -87,7 +87,7 @@ ISC_LANG_BEGINDECLS
  * Optional flags for dns_client_(start)update.
  */
 /*%< Allow running external context. */
-#define DNS_CLIENTUPDOPT_ALLOWRUN 0x01
+#define DNS_CLIENTUPDOPT_RESERVED 0x01
 /*%< Use TCP transport. */
 #define DNS_CLIENTUPDOPT_TCP 0x02
 
@@ -127,11 +127,11 @@ typedef struct dns_clientreqevent {
 } dns_clientreqevent_t; /* too long? */
 
 isc_result_t
-dns_client_createx(isc_mem_t *mctx, isc_appctx_t *actx, isc_taskmgr_t *taskmgr,
-		   isc_socketmgr_t *socketmgr, isc_timermgr_t *timermgr,
-		   unsigned int options, dns_client_t **clientp,
-		   const isc_sockaddr_t *localaddr4,
-		   const isc_sockaddr_t *localaddr6);
+dns_client_create(isc_mem_t *mctx, isc_appctx_t *actx, isc_taskmgr_t *taskmgr,
+		  isc_socketmgr_t *socketmgr, isc_timermgr_t *timermgr,
+		  unsigned int options, dns_client_t **clientp,
+		  const isc_sockaddr_t *localaddr4,
+		  const isc_sockaddr_t *localaddr6);
 /*%<
  * Create a DNS client object with minimal internal resources, such as
  * a default view for the IN class and IPv4/IPv6 dispatches for the view.
@@ -261,11 +261,8 @@ dns_client_startresolve(dns_client_t *client, const dns_name_t *name,
  * error. Otherwise, it returns the result code of the entire resolution
  * process, either success or failure.
  *
- * It is typically expected that the client object passed to
- * dns_client_resolve() was created via dns_client_create() and has its own
- * managers and contexts.  However, if the DNS_CLIENTRESOPT_ALLOWRUN flag is
- * set in 'options', this function performs the synchronous service even if
- * it does not have its own manager and context structures.
+ * It is expected that the client object passed to dns_client_resolve() was
+ * created via dns_client_create() and has external managers and contexts.
  *
  * dns_client_startresolve() is an asynchronous version of dns_client_resolve()
  * and does not block.  When name resolution is completed, 'action' will be
@@ -401,11 +398,8 @@ dns_client_startrequest(dns_client_t *client, dns_message_t *qmessage,
  * 'rmessage' will contain the response message.  The caller must provide a
  * valid initialized message.
  *
- * It is usually expected that the client object passed to
- * dns_client_request() was created via dns_client_create() and has its own
- * managers and contexts.  However, if the DNS_CLIENTREQOPT_ALLOWRUN flag is
- * set in 'options', this function performs the synchronous service even if
- * it does not have its own manager and context structures.
+ * It is expected that the client object passed to dns_client_request() was
+ * created via dns_client_create() and has external managers and contexts.
  *
  * dns_client_startrequest() is an asynchronous version of dns_client_request()
  * and does not block.  When the transaction is completed, 'action' will be
diff --git a/lib/dns/win32/libdns.def.in b/lib/dns/win32/libdns.def.in
index ae4b42980e..c22be8ee2b 100644
--- a/lib/dns/win32/libdns.def.in
+++ b/lib/dns/win32/libdns.def.in
@@ -135,7 +135,7 @@ dns_cert_totext
 dns_client_addtrustedkey
 dns_client_cancelresolve
 dns_client_clearservers
-dns_client_createx
+dns_client_create
 dns_client_destroy
 dns_client_destroyrestrans
 dns_client_freeresanswer
diff --git a/lib/samples/resolve.c b/lib/samples/resolve.c
index bb0f1de525..bd2a947a8c 100644
--- a/lib/samples/resolve.c
+++ b/lib/samples/resolve.c
@@ -241,7 +241,7 @@ main(int argc, char *argv[]) {
 	dns_rdataset_t *rdataset;
 	dns_namelist_t namelist;
 	isc_mem_t *keymctx = NULL;
-	unsigned int clientopt, resopt;
+	unsigned int clientopt, resopt = 0;
 	bool is_sep = false;
 	const char *port = "53";
 	isc_mem_t *mctx = NULL;
@@ -385,8 +385,8 @@ main(int argc, char *argv[]) {
 	}
 
 	clientopt = 0;
-	result = dns_client_createx(mctx, actx, taskmgr, socketmgr, timermgr,
-				    clientopt, &client, addr4, addr6);
+	result = dns_client_create(mctx, actx, taskmgr, socketmgr, timermgr,
+				   clientopt, &client, addr4, addr6);
 	if (result != ISC_R_SUCCESS) {
 		fprintf(stderr, "dns_client_create failed: %u, %s\n", result,
 			isc_result_totext(result));
@@ -444,7 +444,6 @@ main(int argc, char *argv[]) {
 	}
 
 	/* Perform resolution */
-	resopt = DNS_CLIENTRESOPT_ALLOWRUN;
 	if (keynamestr == NULL) {
 		resopt |= DNS_CLIENTRESOPT_NODNSSEC;
 	}
diff --git a/lib/samples/sample-async.c b/lib/samples/sample-async.c
index 59ff24cba1..fd488ce06c 100644
--- a/lib/samples/sample-async.c
+++ b/lib/samples/sample-async.c
@@ -343,10 +343,10 @@ main(int argc, char *argv[]) {
 
 	isc_app_ctxstart(query_actx);
 
-	result = dns_client_createx(mctx, query_actx, taskmgr, socketmgr,
-				    timermgr, 0, &client, NULL, NULL);
+	result = dns_client_create(mctx, query_actx, taskmgr, socketmgr,
+				   timermgr, 0, &client, NULL, NULL);
 	if (result != ISC_R_SUCCESS) {
-		fprintf(stderr, "dns_client_createx failed: %u\n", result);
+		fprintf(stderr, "dns_client_create failed: %u\n", result);
 		exit(1);
 	}