Retaining a cutting bit. At least some of the illustrative embodiments are methods including: placing a neck portion of a retaining clip in a groove on outer surface of a sleeve (the sleeve with a cylindrical bore defining a longitudinal axis); then telescoping the sleeve and retaining clip, with the neck portion placed in the groove, within a bit block (the telescoping such that an arm portion of the retaining clip partially occludes an aperture of the cylindrical bore); and then inserting a shank portion of a cutting bit within the cylindrical bore of the sleeve (the arm portion of the retaining clip mates with at least a portion of an annular groove of the shank portion); and retaining the shank portion of the cutting bit by way of the arm portion of the retaining clip.