diff --git a/src/lay/lay/layMacroEditorDialog.cc b/src/lay/lay/layMacroEditorDialog.cc
index 1d0a53711..07e54259a 100644
--- a/src/lay/lay/layMacroEditorDialog.cc
+++ b/src/lay/lay/layMacroEditorDialog.cc
@@ -1770,8 +1770,6 @@ MacroEditorDialog::current_tab_changed (int index)
     }
   }
 
-  //  clear the search
-  searchEditBox->clear ();
   replaceFrame->setEnabled (page && page->macro () && !page->macro ()->is_readonly ());
 
   apply_search ();