diff --git a/gtk/gtkentrycompletion.c b/gtk/gtkentrycompletion.c
index 7b22ecd8f1..c81924a4be 100644
--- a/gtk/gtkentrycompletion.c
+++ b/gtk/gtkentrycompletion.c
@@ -830,11 +830,7 @@ gtk_entry_completion_clear_text_column_renderer (GtkEntryCompletion *completion)
 {
   if (completion->priv->text_column != -1)
     {
-      GtkCellArea *area;
-
-      area = gtk_entry_completion_get_area (GTK_CELL_LAYOUT (completion));
-      gtk_cell_layout_clear (area);
-
+      gtk_cell_layout_clear (GTK_CELL_LAYOUT (completion));
       completion->priv->text_column = -1;
       g_object_notify (G_OBJECT (completion), "text_column");
     }