diff --git a/escher/src/text_field.cpp b/escher/src/text_field.cpp
index a2c635328..872acc5f9 100644
--- a/escher/src/text_field.cpp
+++ b/escher/src/text_field.cpp
@@ -536,7 +536,9 @@ bool TextField::handleEventWithText(const char * eventText, bool indentation, bo
 
 void TextField::removeWholeText() {
   reinitDraftTextBuffer();
-  setEditing(true);
+  resetSelection();
+  markRectAsDirty(bounds());
+  layoutSubviews();
   reloadScroll();
 }