diff --git a/src/reader.cpp b/src/reader.cpp
index 8d62dd57a..2f300be05 100644
--- a/src/reader.cpp
+++ b/src/reader.cpp
@@ -250,7 +250,7 @@ bool editable_line_t::undo() {
 void editable_line_t::clear() {
     undo_history_.clear();
     if (empty()) return;
-    set_text_bypassing_undo_history(L"");
+    text_ = L"";
     set_position(0);
 }
 
diff --git a/src/reader.h b/src/reader.h
index 989fff6a2..79a8154f0 100644
--- a/src/reader.h
+++ b/src/reader.h
@@ -81,8 +81,6 @@ struct undo_history_t {
 class editable_line_t {
    public:
     const wcstring &text() const { return text_; }
-    /// Set the text directly without maintaining undo invariants. Use with caution.
-    void set_text_bypassing_undo_history(wcstring &&text) { text_ = text; }
 
     size_t position() const { return position_; }
     void set_position(size_t position) { position_ = position; }