diff --git a/bindings/python/iree/runtime/CMakeLists.txt b/bindings/python/iree/runtime/CMakeLists.txt
index 0185f8c..3369de0 100644
--- a/bindings/python/iree/runtime/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/bindings/python/iree/runtime/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -27,7 +27,6 @@
     iree::modules::hal
     iree::vm
     iree::vm::bytecode_module
-    absl::optional
 )
 
 iree_py_library(
diff --git a/bindings/python/iree/runtime/binding.h b/bindings/python/iree/runtime/binding.h
index 180e90e..c015e76 100644
--- a/bindings/python/iree/runtime/binding.h
+++ b/bindings/python/iree/runtime/binding.h
@@ -7,25 +7,13 @@
 #ifndef IREE_BINDINGS_PYTHON_IREE_BINDING_H_
 #define IREE_BINDINGS_PYTHON_IREE_BINDING_H_
 
+#include <optional>
 #include <vector>
 
-#include "absl/types/optional.h"
 #include "iree/base/api.h"
 #include "pybind11/pybind11.h"
 #include "pybind11/stl.h"
 
-namespace pybind11 {
-namespace detail {
-#if !defined(ABSL_HAVE_STD_OPTIONAL)
-// Make absl::optional act like the future C++17 optional for pybind11.
-// If ABSL_HAVE_STD_OPTIONAL is defined then absl::optional == std::optional
-// and the default type caster is sufficient.
-template <typename T>
-struct type_caster<absl::optional<T>> : optional_caster<absl::optional<T>> {};
-#endif
-}  // namespace detail
-}  // namespace pybind11
-
 namespace iree {
 namespace python {
 
diff --git a/bindings/python/iree/runtime/vm.cc b/bindings/python/iree/runtime/vm.cc
index 9eb53f7..003dac6 100644
--- a/bindings/python/iree/runtime/vm.cc
+++ b/bindings/python/iree/runtime/vm.cc
@@ -6,7 +6,6 @@
 
 #include "bindings/python/iree/runtime/vm.h"
 
-#include "absl/types/optional.h"
 #include "bindings/python/iree/runtime/status_utils.h"
 #include "iree/base/api.h"
 #include "iree/base/status.h"
@@ -75,7 +74,7 @@
 //------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
 VmContext VmContext::Create(VmInstance* instance,
-                            absl::optional<std::vector<VmModule*>> modules) {
+                            std::optional<std::vector<VmModule*>> modules) {
   iree_vm_context_t* context;
   if (!modules) {
     // Simple create with open allowed modules.
@@ -147,14 +146,14 @@
   return VmModule::CreateRetained(module);
 }
 
-absl::optional<iree_vm_function_t> VmModule::LookupFunction(
+std::optional<iree_vm_function_t> VmModule::LookupFunction(
     const std::string& name, iree_vm_function_linkage_t linkage) {
   iree_vm_function_t f;
   auto status = iree_vm_module_lookup_function_by_name(
       raw_ptr(), linkage, {name.data(), name.size()}, &f);
   if (iree_status_is_not_found(status)) {
     iree_status_ignore(status);
-    return absl::nullopt;
+    return std::nullopt;
   }
   CheckApiStatus(status, "Error looking up function");
   return f;
@@ -525,7 +524,7 @@
 
   py::class_<VmContext>(m, "VmContext")
       .def(py::init(&VmContext::Create), py::arg("instance"),
-           py::arg("modules") = absl::optional<std::vector<VmModule*>>())
+           py::arg("modules") = std::optional<std::vector<VmModule*>>())
       .def("register_modules", &VmContext::RegisterModules)
       .def_property_readonly("context_id", &VmContext::context_id)
       .def("invoke", &VmContext::Invoke);
diff --git a/bindings/python/iree/runtime/vm.h b/bindings/python/iree/runtime/vm.h
index 25bbfff..33da644 100644
--- a/bindings/python/iree/runtime/vm.h
+++ b/bindings/python/iree/runtime/vm.h
@@ -7,7 +7,8 @@
 #ifndef IREE_BINDINGS_PYTHON_IREE_RT_VM_H_
 #define IREE_BINDINGS_PYTHON_IREE_RT_VM_H_
 
-#include "absl/types/optional.h"
+#include <optional>
+
 #include "bindings/python/iree/runtime/binding.h"
 #include "bindings/python/iree/runtime/hal.h"
 #include "iree/base/api.h"
@@ -117,7 +118,7 @@
  public:
   static VmModule FromFlatbufferBlob(py::buffer flatbuffer_blob);
 
-  absl::optional<iree_vm_function_t> LookupFunction(
+  std::optional<iree_vm_function_t> LookupFunction(
       const std::string& name, iree_vm_function_linkage_t linkage);
 
   std::string name() const {
@@ -132,7 +133,7 @@
   // static, disallowing further module registration (and may be more
   // efficient).
   static VmContext Create(VmInstance* instance,
-                          absl::optional<std::vector<VmModule*>> modules);
+                          std::optional<std::vector<VmModule*>> modules);
 
   // Registers additional modules. Only valid for non static contexts (i.e.
   // those created without modules.