diff --git a/briar-gtk/briar_gtk/private_chat/private_chat_presenter.py b/briar-gtk/briar_gtk/private_chat/private_chat_presenter.py
index b9e39fe55483b20da70e3d8e38c68b282db6298c..a55e06c189e034b6529989abfa1613404cd83bcb 100644
--- a/briar-gtk/briar_gtk/private_chat/private_chat_presenter.py
+++ b/briar-gtk/briar_gtk/private_chat/private_chat_presenter.py
@@ -97,7 +97,6 @@ class PrivateChatPresenter:
         self._show_chat_placeholder(main_content_stack)
         self._show_sidebar_box()
         self._clear_history_container()
-        self._unselect_contact()
         self._set_contact_name_label("")
         self._view.contact_id = 0
         self._hide_chat_menu_button()
@@ -228,10 +227,6 @@ class PrivateChatPresenter:
             "chat_placeholder")
         chat_placeholder.show()
 
-    def _unselect_contact(self):
-        contacts_list_box = self._view.builder.get_object("contacts_list_box")
-        contacts_list_box.unselect_all()
-
     def _hide_chat_menu_button(self):
         chat_menu_button = self._view.builder.get_object("chat_menu_button")
         chat_menu_button.hide()