diff --git a/python/dune/perftool/blockstructured/vectorization.py b/python/dune/perftool/blockstructured/vectorization.py
index 2e663ffe5acaf0fd06238830d5871083ec3adb08..62aa0fb8abc6d5560daa53c525b2af811755825a 100644
--- a/python/dune/perftool/blockstructured/vectorization.py
+++ b/python/dune/perftool/blockstructured/vectorization.py
@@ -353,18 +353,6 @@ def add_iname_array(knl, vec_iname):
     return knl
 
 
-def replace_vcl_functions(knl, func_names):
-    replacemap = dict()
-    for name in func_names:
-        replacemap[name] = prim.Variable('vcl_' + name)
-
-    new_insns = []
-    for insn in knl.instructions:
-        new_insns.append(insn.with_transformed_expressions(lambda expr: substitute(expr, replacemap)))
-
-    return knl.copy(instructions=new_insns)
-
-
 def vectorize_micro_elements(knl):
     vec_iname = "subel_x"
     if vec_iname in knl.all_inames() and get_global_context_value('integral_type') == 'cell':
@@ -383,6 +371,4 @@ def vectorize_micro_elements(knl):
         knl = add_vcl_temporaries(knl)
         knl = add_vcl_accum_insns(knl, vec_iname + '_inner', vec_iname + '_outer')
         knl = add_vcl_access(knl, vec_iname + '_inner')
-
-        knl = replace_vcl_functions(knl, ['abs'])
     return knl
diff --git a/python/dune/perftool/loopy/mangler.py b/python/dune/perftool/loopy/mangler.py
index 29b0d503bcc0269c7a39d0c3a3accc1657781577..21dc1a1caf5996befc4ad436dbbdbc9db89b1493 100644
--- a/python/dune/perftool/loopy/mangler.py
+++ b/python/dune/perftool/loopy/mangler.py
@@ -50,6 +50,11 @@ def dune_math_manglers(kernel, name, arg_dtypes):
                               (dt,) * len(arg_dtypes),
                               )
 
+    if name == 'abs':
+        dt = arg_dtypes[0]
+        using_std_statement(name)
+        return CallMangleInfo("abs", arg_dtypes, arg_dtypes)
+
 
 @function_mangler
 def get_time_function_mangler(kernel, name, arg_dtypes):
diff --git a/python/dune/perftool/loopy/vcl.py b/python/dune/perftool/loopy/vcl.py
index c0e1d57f277fee67b8779f43890e12c4284cc2d4..345dec931596c07c8641a03f5c0c5035f86d06b6 100644
--- a/python/dune/perftool/loopy/vcl.py
+++ b/python/dune/perftool/loopy/vcl.py
@@ -161,11 +161,3 @@ def vcl_store_and_load_mangler(knl, func, arg_dtypes):
 
     if isinstance(func, VCLStore):
         return lp.CallMangleInfo(func.name, (), (lp.types.NumpyType(np.int32),))
-
-
-@function_mangler
-def vcl_math_mangler(knl, func, arg_dtypes):
-    if func == 'vcl_abs':
-        dtype = arg_dtypes[0]
-        vcl = lp.types.NumpyType(get_vcl_type(dtype))
-        return lp.CallMangleInfo('abs', (vcl,), (vcl,))
\ No newline at end of file