diff --git a/devito/core/cpu.py b/devito/core/cpu.py
index 3435a472e6..bfb4a021b1 100644
--- a/devito/core/cpu.py
+++ b/devito/core/cpu.py
@@ -305,7 +305,6 @@ def _make_iet_passes_mapper(cls, **kwargs):
             'parallel': parizer.make_parallel,
             'openmp': parizer.make_parallel,
             'mpi': partial(mpiize, **kwargs),
-            'linearize': partial(linearize, **kwargs),
             'simd': partial(parizer.make_simd),
             'prodders': hoist_prodders,
             'init': partial(parizer.initialize)
@@ -320,7 +319,7 @@ def _make_iet_passes_mapper(cls, **kwargs):
         'blocking', 'topofuse', 'fission', 'fuse', 'factorize', 'cire-sops',
         'cse', 'lift', 'opt-pows', 'opt-hyperplanes',
         # IET
-        'denormals', 'openmp', 'mpi', 'linearize', 'simd', 'prodders',
+        'denormals', 'openmp', 'mpi', 'simd', 'prodders',
     )
     _known_passes_disabled = ('tasking', 'streaming', 'openacc')
     assert not (set(_known_passes) & set(_known_passes_disabled))
diff --git a/devito/core/gpu.py b/devito/core/gpu.py
index 536a06422e..a490aed3aa 100644
--- a/devito/core/gpu.py
+++ b/devito/core/gpu.py
@@ -334,7 +334,6 @@ def _make_iet_passes_mapper(cls, **kwargs):
             'orchestrate': partial(orchestrator.process),
             'pthreadify': partial(pthreadify, **kwargs),
             'mpi': partial(mpiize, **kwargs),
-            'linearize': partial(linearize, **kwargs),
             'prodders': partial(hoist_prodders),
             'init': partial(parizer.initialize)
         }
@@ -348,7 +347,7 @@ def _make_iet_passes_mapper(cls, **kwargs):
         'blocking', 'tasking', 'streaming', 'factorize', 'fission', 'fuse', 'lift',
         'cire-sops', 'cse', 'opt-pows', 'topofuse',
         # IET
-        'orchestrate', 'pthreadify', 'parallel', 'mpi', 'linearize', 'prodders'
+        'orchestrate', 'pthreadify', 'parallel', 'mpi', 'prodders'
     )
     _known_passes_disabled = ('denormals', 'simd')
     assert not (set(_known_passes) & set(_known_passes_disabled))
diff --git a/devito/core/operator.py b/devito/core/operator.py
index 2a84d381f7..4fe8a59299 100644
--- a/devito/core/operator.py
+++ b/devito/core/operator.py
@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@
 from devito.mpi.routines import mpi_registry
 from devito.operator import Operator
 from devito.parameters import configuration
+from devito.passes.iet import linearize
 from devito.tools import (
     UnboundedMultiTuple, UnboundTuple, as_tuple, is_integer, timed_pass
 )
@@ -455,8 +456,7 @@ def _specialize_iet(cls, graph, **kwargs):
         cls._Target.DataManager(**kwargs).process(graph)
 
         # Linearize n-dimensional Indexeds
-        if 'linearize' not in passes and options['linearize']:
-            passes_mapper['linearize'](graph)
+        linearize(graph, **kwargs)
 
         # Enforce pthreads if CPU-GPU orchestration requested
         if 'orchestrate' in passes and 'pthreadify' not in passes:
diff --git a/tests/test_linearize.py b/tests/test_linearize.py
index c78880924d..e8eb0c7562 100644
--- a/tests/test_linearize.py
+++ b/tests/test_linearize.py
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@
     Eq, Function, Grid, Inc, MatrixSparseTimeFunction, Operator, SparseTimeFunction,
     TimeFunction, configuration, sin, switchconfig
 )
+from devito.exceptions import InvalidOperator
 from devito.ir import Call, Callable, DummyExpr, Expression, FindNodes, SymbolRegistry
 from devito.passes import Graph, generate_macros, linearize
 from devito.types import Array, Bundle, CustomDimension, DefaultDimension
@@ -737,3 +738,23 @@ def test_bundle_derived_dim_stride():
     assert bundle.symbolic_shape[p] is not bundle.symbolic_shape[rp]
     assert bundle.symbolic_shape[rp] == 2
     assert bundle.symbolic_shape.dindex(rp) == 1
+
+
+def test_linearize_is_not_a_pass():
+    """
+    `linearize` is an option, `opt=(mode, {'linearize': True})`, not a pass.
+    """
+    grid = Grid(shape=(4, 4))
+
+    u = TimeFunction(name='u', grid=grid)
+
+    with pytest.raises(InvalidOperator):
+        Operator(Eq(u.forward, u + 1), opt=('linearize', {'linearize': True}))
+
+    op = Operator(Eq(u.forward, u + 1), opt=('openmp', {'linearize': True}))
+
+    assert 'uL0' in str(op)
+
+    op.apply(time_M=2)
+
+    assert np.all(u.data[1] == 3)