diff --git a/src/bun_core/env_var.rs b/src/bun_core/env_var.rs
index fbbe06a15913..1148327a73ab 100644
--- a/src/bun_core/env_var.rs
+++ b/src/bun_core/env_var.rs
@@ -442,7 +442,7 @@ pub(crate) mod kind {
                 };
                 match cached {
                     StoredType::Unknown => {
-                        crate::hint::cold();
+                        core::hint::cold_path();
                         CacheOutput::Unknown
                     }
                     StoredType::NotSet => CacheOutput::NotSet,
@@ -567,7 +567,7 @@ pub(crate) mod kind {
             pub(crate) fn get_cached(&self) -> Output {
                 match self.value.load(Ordering::Relaxed) {
                     UNKNOWN_SENTINEL => {
-                        crate::hint::cold();
+                        core::hint::cold_path();
                         CacheOutput::Unknown
                     }
                     NOT_SET_SENTINEL => CacheOutput::NotSet,
@@ -708,7 +708,7 @@ macro_rules! platform_specific_new {
                 // Inline the logic from get() without calling assert_platform_supported()
                 match CACHE.get_cached() {
                     CacheOutput::Unknown => {
-                        $crate::hint::cold();
+                        ::core::hint::cold_path();
 
                         let env_var = $crate::getenv_z(k);
                         let maybe_reloaded = CACHE.deser_and_invalidate(env_var);
diff --git a/src/bun_core/hint.rs b/src/bun_core/hint.rs
deleted file mode 100644
index 8ec6e309541e..000000000000
--- a/src/bun_core/hint.rs
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,20 +0,0 @@
-//! Branch-prediction hints.
-
-/// Mark the surrounding branch as cold/unlikely.
-///
-/// Calling a `#[cold]` callee makes LLVM treat the *call site's* basic block
-/// as cold and lay it out off the hot path. `#[inline(never)]` is required:
-/// if the empty body is inlined the call instruction — and with it the hint —
-/// disappears. Do NOT mark this `#[inline]` / `#[inline(always)]`.
-///
-/// ```ignore
-/// if rare {
-///     bun_core::hint::cold();
-///     return Err(e);
-/// }
-/// ```
-// TODO: replace with `core::hint::cold_path()` once rust-lang/rust#117174
-// stabilizes (then drop `#[inline(never)]`).
-#[cold]
-#[inline(never)]
-pub const fn cold() {}
diff --git a/src/bun_core/lib.rs b/src/bun_core/lib.rs
index 8428018adcc5..f6c6714b8a3d 100644
--- a/src/bun_core/lib.rs
+++ b/src/bun_core/lib.rs
@@ -18,7 +18,6 @@ pub mod Global;
 pub mod atomic_cell;
 pub mod comptime_string_map;
 pub mod error;
-pub mod hint;
 pub mod result;
 pub mod thread_id;
 pub mod tty;
diff --git a/src/bun_core/string/immutable.rs b/src/bun_core/string/immutable.rs
index 46f64171aaf5..a7d5c2ef8bfb 100644
--- a/src/bun_core/string/immutable.rs
+++ b/src/bun_core/string/immutable.rs
@@ -2183,7 +2183,7 @@ pub fn percent_encode_write(
         remaining = &remaining[j..];
         let code_point_len: usize = wtf8_byte_sequence_length_with_invalid(remaining[0]) as usize;
         if remaining.len() < code_point_len {
-            crate::hint::cold();
+            core::hint::cold_path();
             return Err(PercentEncodeError::IncompleteUTF8);
         }
 
diff --git a/src/http_jsc/websocket_client.rs b/src/http_jsc/websocket_client.rs
index 8c284d83d56b..92a4d1639348 100644
--- a/src/http_jsc/websocket_client.rs
+++ b/src/http_jsc/websocket_client.rs
@@ -2069,7 +2069,7 @@ impl Mask {
         *mask_buf = Self::generate(global_this);
         let skip_mask = u32::from_ne_bytes(*mask_buf) == 0;
         if input.is_empty() {
-            bun_core::hint::cold();
+            core::hint::cold_path();
             return;
         }
         bun_highway::fill_with_skip_mask(*mask_buf, &mut output[..input.len()], input, skip_mask);
@@ -2081,7 +2081,7 @@ impl Mask {
         *mask_buf = Self::generate(global_this);
         let skip_mask = u32::from_ne_bytes(*mask_buf) == 0;
         if buf.is_empty() {
-            bun_core::hint::cold();
+            core::hint::cold_path();
             return;
         }
         bun_highway::fill_with_skip_mask_inplace(*mask_buf, buf, skip_mask);
diff --git a/src/jsc/VirtualMachine.rs b/src/jsc/VirtualMachine.rs
index 3a0e43b786b6..21356a15e133 100644
--- a/src/jsc/VirtualMachine.rs
+++ b/src/jsc/VirtualMachine.rs
@@ -2751,7 +2751,7 @@ impl VirtualMachine {
 
                 // Check if Module.runMain was patched.
                 if self.has_patched_run_main {
-                    bun_core::hint::cold();
+                    core::hint::cold_path();
                     self.pending_internal_promise = None;
                     self.pending_internal_promise_is_protected = false;
                     let global_ref = self.global();
diff --git a/src/jsc/event_loop.rs b/src/jsc/event_loop.rs
index b1eb57abaa7d..7985a8715649 100644
--- a/src/jsc/event_loop.rs
+++ b/src/jsc/event_loop.rs
@@ -931,7 +931,7 @@ impl EventLoop {
         // loop (the recursion check).
         if unsafe { (*this).next_immediate_tasks.capacity() } > 0 {
             // this would only occur if we were recursively running tickImmediateTasks.
-            bun_core::hint::cold();
+            core::hint::cold_path();
             // SAFETY: as above.
             let next = core::mem::take(unsafe { &mut (*this).next_immediate_tasks });
             // SAFETY: as above.
diff --git a/src/resolver/resolver.rs b/src/resolver/resolver.rs
index 1e45ac9687a1..c0380fbfdc57 100644
--- a/src/resolver/resolver.rs
+++ b/src/resolver/resolver.rs
@@ -1861,8 +1861,7 @@ impl<'a> Resolver<'a> {
 
         if check_relative {
             if let Some(custom_paths) = self.custom_dir_paths {
-                // @branchHint(.unlikely)
-                bun_core::hint::cold();
+                core::hint::cold_path();
                 for custom_path in custom_paths {
                     let custom_utf8 = custom_path.to_utf8_without_ref();
                     match self.check_relative_path(
@@ -2002,7 +2001,7 @@ impl<'a> Resolver<'a> {
             }
 
             if let Some(custom_paths) = self.custom_dir_paths {
-                bun_core::hint::cold();
+                core::hint::cold_path();
                 for custom_path in custom_paths {
                     let custom_utf8 = custom_path.to_utf8_without_ref();
                     match self.check_package_path(
diff --git a/src/runtime/bake/DevServer.rs b/src/runtime/bake/DevServer.rs
index 31723fac9a87..44a6ab38998f 100644
--- a/src/runtime/bake/DevServer.rs
+++ b/src/runtime/bake/DevServer.rs
@@ -5694,10 +5694,10 @@ impl DevServer {
     /// `Cell`-based, so a shared borrow suffices. JS-thread only.
     pub(crate) fn inspector(&self) -> Option<&BunFrontendDevServerAgent> {
         if let Some(debugger) = self.vm().debugger.as_ref() {
-            bun_core::hint::cold();
+            core::hint::cold_path();
             let agent = BunFrontendDevServerAgent::from_slot(&debugger.extension_agent);
             if agent.is_enabled() {
-                bun_core::hint::cold();
+                core::hint::cold_path();
                 return Some(agent);
             }
         }
diff --git a/src/runtime/cli/create/SourceFileProjectGenerator.rs b/src/runtime/cli/create/SourceFileProjectGenerator.rs
index 3301ba5e0523..473dbd973e63 100644
--- a/src/runtime/cli/create/SourceFileProjectGenerator.rs
+++ b/src/runtime/cli/create/SourceFileProjectGenerator.rs
@@ -647,7 +647,7 @@ fn find_react_component_export<'r>(bundler: &'r BundleV2<'_>) -> Option<&'r [u8]
 
             let filename = source.path.name().non_unique_name_string_base();
             if filename.is_empty() {
-                bun_core::hint::cold();
+                core::hint::cold_path();
                 continue;
             }
 
diff --git a/src/runtime/ipc.rs b/src/runtime/ipc.rs
index a3f94d08bea4..872c4238732a 100644
--- a/src/runtime/ipc.rs
+++ b/src/runtime/ipc.rs
@@ -501,7 +501,7 @@ mod json {
                 json_ipc_data_string_free_cb,
             );
             if s.tag() == bun_core::Tag::Dead {
-                bun_core::hint::cold();
+                core::hint::cold_path();
                 return Err(IPCDecodeError::Js(JsError::OutOfMemory));
             }
             s
diff --git a/src/runtime/jsc_hooks.rs b/src/runtime/jsc_hooks.rs
index 248e0bfe178d..45442b5eea17 100644
--- a/src/runtime/jsc_hooks.rs
+++ b/src/runtime/jsc_hooks.rs
@@ -4463,7 +4463,7 @@ unsafe fn transpile_file(
 
     // ── force_loader / require.extensions override ──────────────────────────
     if let Some(loader_type) = force_loader_type {
-        // Note: `@branchHint(.unlikely)` dropped (no stable Rust equiv).
+        core::hint::cold_path();
         debug_assert!(!is_commonjs_require);
         lr.loader = Some(loader_type);
     } else if is_commonjs_require
diff --git a/src/runtime/server/server_body.rs b/src/runtime/server/server_body.rs
index 5b5f40098dd9..064849370d83 100644
--- a/src/runtime/server/server_body.rs
+++ b/src/runtime/server/server_body.rs
@@ -1384,9 +1384,9 @@ impl<const SSL: bool, const DEBUG: bool> NewServer<SSL, DEBUG> {
     /// the per-transport `RequestContext` bounds.
     pub(super) fn notify_inspector_server_stopped(&mut self) {
         if self.inspector_server_id.get() != 0 {
-            bun_core::hint::cold();
+            core::hint::cold_path();
             if let Some(debugger) = &self.vm().as_mut().debugger {
-                bun_core::hint::cold();
+                core::hint::cold_path();
                 // NOTE (layering): the `HTTPServerAgent.notifyServerStopped`
                 // wrapper lives in
                 // `super::http_server_agent` so this crate-tier call doesn't
@@ -2679,7 +2679,7 @@ where
                     let addr = match SocketAddress::init(address_bytes, port) {
                         Ok(a) => a,
                         Err(_) => {
-                            bun_core::hint::cold();
+                            core::hint::cold_path();
                             return Ok(JSValue::NULL);
                         }
                     };
@@ -2697,7 +2697,7 @@ where
                         let addr = match SocketAddress::init(address_bytes, port) {
                             Ok(a) => a,
                             Err(_) => {
-                                bun_core::hint::cold();
+                                core::hint::cold_path();
                                 return Ok(JSValue::NULL);
                             }
                         };
diff --git a/src/runtime/shell/EnvStr.rs b/src/runtime/shell/EnvStr.rs
index 9aa0975f9277..b82a976529dc 100644
--- a/src/runtime/shell/EnvStr.rs
+++ b/src/runtime/shell/EnvStr.rs
@@ -139,7 +139,7 @@ impl EnvStr {
             break 'brk 1;
         };
         if divisor == 0 {
-            bun_core::hint::cold();
+            core::hint::cold_path();
             return 0;
         }
 
diff --git a/src/runtime/valkey_jsc/js_valkey.rs b/src/runtime/valkey_jsc/js_valkey.rs
index 8bea145e70f2..f45938b20fca 100644
--- a/src/runtime/valkey_jsc/js_valkey.rs
+++ b/src/runtime/valkey_jsc/js_valkey.rs
@@ -1196,7 +1196,7 @@ impl JSValkeyClient {
         // No reconnecting on a VM that is exiting: its stop phase would only
         // have to close the new socket again.
         if self.vm().is_shutting_down() {
-            bun_core::hint::cold();
+            core::hint::cold_path();
             return Ok(());
         }
 
@@ -1597,7 +1597,7 @@ impl JSValkeyClient {
         if self.client.get().status != valkey::Status::NeverConnected {
             return;
         }
-        bun_core::hint::cold();
+        core::hint::cold_path();
 
         match self.connect() {
             // The command is queued as for a dial in flight; the deferred
diff --git a/src/runtime/valkey_jsc/valkey.rs b/src/runtime/valkey_jsc/valkey.rs
index 15c5173ae933..c089c918ac38 100644
--- a/src/runtime/valkey_jsc/valkey.rs
+++ b/src/runtime/valkey_jsc/valkey.rs
@@ -967,7 +967,7 @@ impl ValkeyClient {
                 } else {
                     // We should rarely reach this point. If we're guaranteed to be handling a subscribe/unsubscribe,
                     // then this is an unexpected path.
-                    bun_core::hint::cold();
+                    core::hint::cold_path();
                     self.fail(
                         b"Push message is not a subscription message.",
                         RedisError::InvalidResponseType,
@@ -1164,7 +1164,7 @@ impl ValkeyClient {
                             return Ok(());
                         }
                     } else {
-                        bun_core::hint::cold();
+                        core::hint::cold_path();
                         self.fail(
                             b"Unexpected push message kind without promise",
                             RedisError::InvalidResponseType,
diff --git a/src/sql_jsc/mysql/MySQLRequestQueue.rs b/src/sql_jsc/mysql/MySQLRequestQueue.rs
index a1852d5f214e..324e10d0b14d 100644
--- a/src/sql_jsc/mysql/MySQLRequestQueue.rs
+++ b/src/sql_jsc/mysql/MySQLRequestQueue.rs
@@ -73,7 +73,7 @@ impl MySQLRequestQueue {
             .get()
             .unwrap_or(false)
         {
-            // @branchHint(.unlikely) — no stable Rust equivalent; left as plain branch.
+            core::hint::cold_path();
             return false;
         }
 
diff --git a/src/sql_jsc/postgres/DataCell.rs b/src/sql_jsc/postgres/DataCell.rs
index c76aaac5ecd4..a1e6e6a3fce3 100644
--- a/src/sql_jsc/postgres/DataCell.rs
+++ b/src/sql_jsc/postgres/DataCell.rs
@@ -588,7 +588,7 @@ fn parse_array(
 
     // postgres dont really support arrays with more than 2^31 elements, 2ˆ32 is the max we support, but users should never reach this branch
     if !reached_end || array.len() > u32::MAX as usize {
-        bun_core::hint::cold();
+        core::hint::cold_path();
         return Err(AnyPostgresError::UnsupportedArrayFormat);
     }
 
diff --git a/src/sql_jsc/postgres/PostgresSQLConnection.rs b/src/sql_jsc/postgres/PostgresSQLConnection.rs
index f575ab14d4f8..5f0affa2b503 100644
--- a/src/sql_jsc/postgres/PostgresSQLConnection.rs
+++ b/src/sql_jsc/postgres/PostgresSQLConnection.rs
@@ -1598,7 +1598,7 @@ impl PostgresSQLConnection {
             .get()
             .unwrap_or(false)
         {
-            bun_core::hint::cold();
+            core::hint::cold_path();
             return false;
         }
 
diff --git a/test/internal/source-lints/port-era-markers.test.ts b/test/internal/source-lints/port-era-markers.test.ts
index 97b42cc0b489..33b5c3bea926 100644
--- a/test/internal/source-lints/port-era-markers.test.ts
+++ b/test/internal/source-lints/port-era-markers.test.ts
@@ -45,6 +45,10 @@ const banned: { pattern: RegExp; reason: string }[] = [
     pattern: /\bun-gated\b/i,
     reason: "'un-gated' is port-era progress narrative, not useful documentation",
   },
+  {
+    pattern: /@branchHint\b/i,
+    reason: "'@branchHint' notes describe a hint the port dropped; the Rust spelling is core::hint::cold_path()",
+  },
 ];
 
 const rustSources = globAllSources().rust.filter(p => p.endsWith(".rs"));