diff --git a/cpp/ql/src/Likely Bugs/Arithmetic/PointlessComparison.ql b/cpp/ql/src/Likely Bugs/Arithmetic/PointlessComparison.ql
index b68203c2a91..8ff5d438c43 100644
--- a/cpp/ql/src/Likely Bugs/Arithmetic/PointlessComparison.ql	
+++ b/cpp/ql/src/Likely Bugs/Arithmetic/PointlessComparison.ql	
@@ -31,7 +31,7 @@ from
 where
   not cmp.isInMacroExpansion() and
   not cmp.isFromTemplateInstantiation(_) and
-  not containsDisabledCode(cmp.getEnclosingFunction()) and
+  not functionContainsDisabledCode(cmp.getEnclosingFunction()) and
   reachablePointlessComparison(cmp, left, right, value, ss) and
 
   // a comparison between an enum and zero is always valid because whether
diff --git a/cpp/ql/src/Likely Bugs/Likely Typos/ExprHasNoEffect.ql b/cpp/ql/src/Likely Bugs/Likely Typos/ExprHasNoEffect.ql
index e19767b9f76..12b95096be8 100644
--- a/cpp/ql/src/Likely Bugs/Likely Typos/ExprHasNoEffect.ql	
+++ b/cpp/ql/src/Likely Bugs/Likely Typos/ExprHasNoEffect.ql	
@@ -27,12 +27,12 @@ predicate accessInInitOfForStmt(Expr e) {
  * Holds if the function `f`, or a function called by it, contains
  * code excluded by the preprocessor.
  */
-predicate containsDisabledCodeRecursive(Function f) {
-  containsDisabledCode(f) or
+predicate functionContainsDisabledCodeRecursive(Function f) {
+  functionContainsDisabledCode(f) or
   // recurse into function calls
   exists(FunctionCall fc |
     fc.getEnclosingFunction() = f and
-    containsDisabledCode(fc.getTarget())
+    functionContainsDisabledCodeRecursive(fc.getTarget())
   )
 }
 
@@ -40,12 +40,12 @@ predicate containsDisabledCodeRecursive(Function f) {
  * Holds if the function `f`, or a function called by it, is inside a
  * preprocessor branch that may have code in another arm
  */
-predicate definedInIfDefRecursive(Function f) {
-  definedInIfDef(f) or
+predicate functionDefinedInIfDefRecursive(Function f) {
+  functionDefinedInIfDef(f) or
   // recurse into function calls
   exists(FunctionCall fc |
     fc.getEnclosingFunction() = f and
-    definedInIfDef(fc.getTarget())
+    functionDefinedInIfDefRecursive(fc.getTarget())
   )
 }
 
@@ -79,8 +79,8 @@ where // EQExprs are covered by CompareWhereAssignMeant.ql
       not parent instanceof PureExprInVoidContext and
       not peivc.getEnclosingFunction().isCompilerGenerated() and
       not peivc.getType() instanceof UnknownType and
-      not containsDisabledCodeRecursive(peivc.(FunctionCall).getTarget()) and
-      not definedInIfDefRecursive(peivc.(FunctionCall).getTarget()) and
+      not functionContainsDisabledCodeRecursive(peivc.(FunctionCall).getTarget()) and
+      not functionDefinedInIfDefRecursive(peivc.(FunctionCall).getTarget()) and
       if peivc instanceof FunctionCall then
         exists(Function target |
           target = peivc.(FunctionCall).getTarget() and
diff --git a/cpp/ql/src/semmle/code/cpp/Preprocessor.qll b/cpp/ql/src/semmle/code/cpp/Preprocessor.qll
index fe8cbe0701d..1d188138623 100644
--- a/cpp/ql/src/semmle/code/cpp/Preprocessor.qll
+++ b/cpp/ql/src/semmle/code/cpp/Preprocessor.qll
@@ -239,7 +239,7 @@ private predicate functionLocation(Function f, string file, int fBlockStartLine,
 /**
  * Holds if the function `f` is inside a preprocessor branch that may have code in another arm.
  */
-predicate definedInIfDef(Function f) {
+predicate functionDefinedInIfDef(Function f) {
   exists(PreprocessorBranchDirective pbd, string file, int pbdStartLine, int pbdEndLine, int fBlockStartLine,
       int fBlockEndLine  |
     functionLocation(f, file, fBlockStartLine, fBlockEndLine) and
@@ -258,13 +258,12 @@ predicate definedInIfDef(Function f) {
 }
 
 /**
- * Holds if the function `f`, or a function called by it, contains
- * code excluded by the preprocessor.
+ * Holds if the function `f` contains code excluded by the preprocessor.
  */
-predicate containsDisabledCode(Function f) {
+predicate functionContainsDisabledCode(Function f) {
   // `f` contains a preprocessor branch that was not taken
   exists(PreprocessorBranchDirective pbd, string file, int pbdStartLine, int fBlockStartLine, int fBlockEndLine |
-      functionLocation(f, file, fBlockStartLine, fBlockEndLine) and
+    functionLocation(f, file, fBlockStartLine, fBlockEndLine) and
     pbdLocation(pbd, file, pbdStartLine) and
     pbdStartLine <= fBlockEndLine and
     pbdStartLine >= fBlockStartLine and
@@ -275,10 +274,5 @@ predicate containsDisabledCode(Function f) {
       // was not taken.
       pbd instanceof PreprocessorElse
     )
-  ) or
-  // recurse into function calls
-  exists(FunctionCall fc |
-    fc.getEnclosingFunction() = f and
-    containsDisabledCode(fc.getTarget())
   )
 }