diff --git a/agent/consul/catalog_endpoint.go b/agent/consul/catalog_endpoint.go
index 840b97fa6a..adde8e52eb 100644
--- a/agent/consul/catalog_endpoint.go
+++ b/agent/consul/catalog_endpoint.go
@@ -47,17 +47,6 @@ func (c *Catalog) Register(args *structs.RegisterRequest, reply *struct{}) error
 
 	// Handle a service registration.
 	if args.Service != nil {
-		// Connect proxy specific logic
-		if args.Service.Kind == structs.ServiceKindConnectProxy {
-			// Name is optional, if it isn't set, we default to the
-			// proxy name. It actually MUST be this, but the validation
-			// below this will verify.
-			if args.Service.Service == "" {
-				args.Service.Service = fmt.Sprintf(
-					"%s-connect-proxy", args.Service.ProxyDestination)
-			}
-		}
-
 		// Validate the service. This is in addition to the below since
 		// the above just hasn't been moved over yet. We should move it over
 		// in time.
diff --git a/agent/consul/catalog_endpoint_test.go b/agent/consul/catalog_endpoint_test.go
index b095c3f3a8..fd437c9780 100644
--- a/agent/consul/catalog_endpoint_test.go
+++ b/agent/consul/catalog_endpoint_test.go
@@ -384,36 +384,6 @@ func TestCatalog_Register_ConnectProxy_invalid(t *testing.T) {
 	assert.Contains(err.Error(), "ProxyDestination")
 }
 
-// Test registering a proxy with no name set, which should work.
-func TestCatalog_Register_ConnectProxy_noName(t *testing.T) {
-	t.Parallel()
-
-	assert := assert.New(t)
-	dir1, s1 := testServer(t)
-	defer os.RemoveAll(dir1)
-	defer s1.Shutdown()
-	codec := rpcClient(t, s1)
-	defer codec.Close()
-
-	args := structs.TestRegisterRequestProxy(t)
-	args.Service.Service = ""
-
-	// Register
-	var out struct{}
-	assert.Nil(msgpackrpc.CallWithCodec(codec, "Catalog.Register", &args, &out))
-
-	// List
-	req := structs.ServiceSpecificRequest{
-		Datacenter:  "dc1",
-		ServiceName: fmt.Sprintf("%s-connect-proxy", args.Service.ProxyDestination),
-	}
-	var resp structs.IndexedServiceNodes
-	assert.Nil(msgpackrpc.CallWithCodec(codec, "Catalog.ServiceNodes", &req, &resp))
-	assert.Len(resp.ServiceNodes, 1)
-	v := resp.ServiceNodes[0]
-	assert.Equal(structs.ServiceKindConnectProxy, v.ServiceKind)
-}
-
 // Test that write is required for the proxy destination to register a proxy.
 func TestCatalog_Register_ConnectProxy_ACLProxyDestination(t *testing.T) {
 	t.Parallel()
diff --git a/agent/structs/structs.go b/agent/structs/structs.go
index f8f339a5b0..40b606d170 100644
--- a/agent/structs/structs.go
+++ b/agent/structs/structs.go
@@ -462,8 +462,11 @@ type ServiceNodes []*ServiceNode
 type ServiceKind string
 
 const (
-	// ServiceKindTypical is a typical, classic Consul service.
-	ServiceKindTypical ServiceKind = "typical"
+	// ServiceKindTypical is a typical, classic Consul service. This is
+	// represented by the absense of a value. This was chosen for ease of
+	// backwards compatibility: existing services in the catalog would
+	// default to the typical service.
+	ServiceKindTypical ServiceKind = ""
 
 	// ServiceKindConnectProxy is a proxy for the Connect feature. This
 	// service proxies another service within Consul and speaks the connect