diff --git a/Library/Homebrew/dev-cmd/audit.rb b/Library/Homebrew/dev-cmd/audit.rb
index c11c503e38..4f71189c9b 100644
--- a/Library/Homebrew/dev-cmd/audit.rb
+++ b/Library/Homebrew/dev-cmd/audit.rb
@@ -31,9 +31,6 @@
 #:
 #:    If `--except-cops` is passed, the given Rubocop cop(s)' checks would be skipped.
 #:
-#:    If `--commit-range` is is passed, the audited Formula will be compared to the
-#:    last revision before the `<commit_range>`.
-#:
 #:    `audit` exits with a non-zero status if any errors are found. This is useful,
 #:    for instance, for implementing pre-commit hooks.
 
@@ -651,25 +648,9 @@ class FormulaAuditor
       problem "Devel-only (no stable download)"
     end
 
-    previous_formula_contents = unless formula.tap.nil?
-      commit_range = ARGV.value("commit-range")
-      Git.last_revision_of_file(formula.tap.path, formula.path, before_commit: commit_range)
-    end
-    previous_formula = unless (previous_formula_contents || "").empty?
-      Formulary.from_contents(formula.name, formula.path, previous_formula_contents)
-    end
-
     %w[Stable Devel HEAD].each do |name|
       next unless spec = formula.send(name.downcase)
 
-      unless previous_formula.nil?
-        previous_spec = previous_formula.send(name.downcase)
-
-        if previous_spec.version == spec.version && previous_spec.checksum != spec.checksum
-          problem "#{name}: only sha256 changed; needs to be confirmed by the developer"
-        end
-      end
-
       ra = ResourceAuditor.new(spec, online: @online, strict: @strict).audit
       problems.concat ra.problems.map { |problem| "#{name}: #{problem}" }
 
@@ -765,6 +746,15 @@ class FormulaAuditor
     return if @new_formula
 
     fv = FormulaVersions.new(formula)
+
+    previous_version_and_checksum = fv.previous_version_and_checksum("origin/master")
+    [:stable, :devel].each do |spec_sym|
+      next unless spec = formula.send(spec_sym)
+      next unless previous_version_and_checksum[spec_sym][:version] == spec.version
+      next if previous_version_and_checksum[spec_sym][:checksum] == spec.checksum
+      problem "#{spec_sym}: only sha256 changed; needs to be confirmed by the developer"
+    end
+
     attributes = [:revision, :version_scheme]
     attributes_map = fv.version_attributes_map(attributes, "origin/master")
 
diff --git a/Library/Homebrew/formula_versions.rb b/Library/Homebrew/formula_versions.rb
index 70706a2f01..5c4e0ecc96 100644
--- a/Library/Homebrew/formula_versions.rb
+++ b/Library/Homebrew/formula_versions.rb
@@ -63,6 +63,26 @@ class FormulaVersions
     map
   end
 
+  def previous_version_and_checksum(branch)
+    map = {}
+
+    rev_list(branch) do |rev|
+      formula_at_revision(rev) do |f|
+        [:stable, :devel].each do |spec_sym|
+          next unless spec = f.send(spec_sym)
+          map[spec_sym] ||= { version: spec.version, checksum: spec.checksum }
+        end
+
+        break if map[:stable] && map[:devel]
+      end
+    end
+
+    map[:stable] ||= {}
+    map[:devel] ||= {}
+
+    map
+  end
+
   def version_attributes_map(attributes, branch)
     attributes_map = {}
     return attributes_map if attributes.empty?
diff --git a/docs/Manpage.md b/docs/Manpage.md
index fa8a7572a0..2dac894434 100644
--- a/docs/Manpage.md
+++ b/docs/Manpage.md
@@ -643,9 +643,6 @@ With `--verbose` or `-v`, many commands print extra debugging information. Note
 
     If `--except-cops` is passed, the given Rubocop cop(s)' checks would be skipped.
 
-    If `--commit-range` is is passed, the audited Formula will be compared to the
-    last revision before the ``commit_range``.
-
     `audit` exits with a non-zero status if any errors are found. This is useful,
     for instance, for implementing pre-commit hooks.
 
diff --git a/manpages/brew.1 b/manpages/brew.1
index c4006ef470..ca11439a64 100644
--- a/manpages/brew.1
+++ b/manpages/brew.1
@@ -674,9 +674,6 @@ If \fB\-\-only\-cops\fR is passed, only the given Rubocop cop(s)\' violations wo
 If \fB\-\-except\-cops\fR is passed, the given Rubocop cop(s)\' checks would be skipped\.
 .
 .IP
-If \fB\-\-commit\-range\fR is is passed, the audited Formula will be compared to the last revision before the \fB<commit_range>\fR\.
-.
-.IP
 \fBaudit\fR exits with a non\-zero status if any errors are found\. This is useful, for instance, for implementing pre\-commit hooks\.
 .
 .TP