diff --git a/src/GPUCompiler.jl b/src/GPUCompiler.jl
index 02301ade..bae599c0 100644
--- a/src/GPUCompiler.jl
+++ b/src/GPUCompiler.jl
@@ -51,7 +51,10 @@ compile_cache = "" # defined in __init__()
 
 function __init__()
     STDERR_HAS_COLOR[] = get(stderr, :color, false)
+    create_compile_cache()
+end
 
+function create_compile_cache()
     dir = @get_scratch!("compiled")
     ## add the Julia version
     dir = joinpath(dir, "v$(VERSION.major).$(VERSION.minor)")
@@ -64,4 +67,18 @@ function __init__()
     global compile_cache = dir
 end
 
+# remove the existing cache
+# NOTE: call this function from global scope, so any change triggers recompilation.
+function reset_compile_cache()
+    dir = @get_scratch!("compiled")
+    lock(runtime_lock) do
+        rm(dir; force=true, recursive=true)
+        create_compile_cache()
+    end
+
+    return
+end
+# backwards compatibility
+const reset_runtime = reset_compile_cache
+
 end # module
diff --git a/src/rtlib.jl b/src/rtlib.jl
index 7d0000ac..6c1ea0f8 100644
--- a/src/rtlib.jl
+++ b/src/rtlib.jl
@@ -144,13 +144,3 @@ const runtime_lock = ReentrantLock()
         return lib
     end
 end
-
-# remove the existing cache
-# NOTE: call this function from global scope, so any change triggers recompilation.
-function reset_runtime()
-    lock(runtime_lock) do
-        rm(compile_cache; recursive=true, force=true)
-    end
-
-    return
-end