diff --git a/lib/babel/transformation/file.js b/lib/babel/transformation/file.js
index 44216a8554..e87042c47c 100644
--- a/lib/babel/transformation/file.js
+++ b/lib/babel/transformation/file.js
@@ -85,7 +85,7 @@ File.validOptions = [
   "playground",
   "experimental",
   "resolveModuleSource",
-  "runtime",
+  "externalHelpers",
   "auxilaryComment",
 
   // these are used by plugins
@@ -107,6 +107,7 @@ File.prototype.normalizeOptions = function (opts) {
   defaults(opts, {
     keepModuleIdExtensions: false,
     resolveModuleSource:    null,
+    externalHelpers:        false,
     auxilaryComment:        "",
     experimental:           false,
     reactCompat:            false,
@@ -120,7 +121,6 @@ File.prototype.normalizeOptions = function (opts) {
     comments:               true,
     filename:               "unknown",
     modules:                "common",
-    runtime:                false,
     loose:                  [],
     code:                   true,
     ast:                    true
@@ -164,7 +164,7 @@ File.prototype.normalizeOptions = function (opts) {
     opts.experimental = true;
   }
 
-  if (opts.runtime) {
+  if (opts.externalHelpers) {
     this.set("runtimeIdentifier", t.identifier("babelHelpers"));
   }