diff --git a/src/compiler/transformers/es2020.ts b/src/compiler/transformers/es2020.ts
index 8cf3169752..f745e7bc2c 100644
--- a/src/compiler/transformers/es2020.ts
+++ b/src/compiler/transformers/es2020.ts
@@ -73,7 +73,7 @@ namespace ts {
 
             let thisArg: Expression | undefined;
             if (captureThisArg) {
-                if (shouldCaptureInTempVariable(expression)) {
+                if (!isSimpleCopiableExpression(expression)) {
                     thisArg = createTempVariable(hoistVariableDeclaration);
                     expression = createAssignment(thisArg, expression);
                     // if (inParameterInitializer) tempVariableInParameter = true;
@@ -113,7 +113,7 @@ namespace ts {
             const leftThisArg = isSyntheticReference(left) ? left.thisArg : undefined;
             let leftExpression = isSyntheticReference(left) ? left.expression : left;
             let capturedLeft: Expression = leftExpression;
-            if (shouldCaptureInTempVariable(leftExpression)) {
+            if (!isSimpleCopiableExpression(leftExpression)) {
                 capturedLeft = createTempVariable(hoistVariableDeclaration);
                 leftExpression = createAssignment(capturedLeft, leftExpression);
                 // if (inParameterInitializer) tempVariableInParameter = true;
@@ -126,7 +126,7 @@ namespace ts {
                     case SyntaxKind.PropertyAccessExpression:
                     case SyntaxKind.ElementAccessExpression:
                         if (i === chain.length - 1 && captureThisArg) {
-                            if (shouldCaptureInTempVariable(rightExpression)) {
+                            if (!isSimpleCopiableExpression(rightExpression)) {
                                 thisArg = createTempVariable(hoistVariableDeclaration);
                                 rightExpression = createAssignment(thisArg, rightExpression);
                                 // if (inParameterInitializer) tempVariableInParameter = true;
@@ -184,7 +184,7 @@ namespace ts {
         function transformNullishCoalescingExpression(node: BinaryExpression) {
             let left = visitNode(node.left, visitor, isExpression);
             let right = left;
-            if (shouldCaptureInTempVariable(left)) {
+            if (!isSimpleCopiableExpression(left)) {
                 right = createTempVariable(hoistVariableDeclaration);
                 left = createAssignment(right, left);
                 // if (inParameterInitializer) tempVariableInParameter = true;
diff --git a/src/compiler/transformers/utilities.ts b/src/compiler/transformers/utilities.ts
index 53052ba2d4..94c734d12a 100644
--- a/src/compiler/transformers/utilities.ts
+++ b/src/compiler/transformers/utilities.ts
@@ -280,14 +280,6 @@ namespace ts {
         }
     }
 
-    export function shouldCaptureInTempVariable(expression: Expression): boolean {
-        // don't capture identifiers and `this` in a temporary variable
-        // `super` cannot be captured as it's not a real variable
-        return !isIdentifier(expression) &&
-            expression.kind !== SyntaxKind.ThisKeyword &&
-            expression.kind !== SyntaxKind.SuperKeyword;
-    }
-
     /**
      * Adds super call and preceding prologue directives into the list of statements.
      *