diff --git a/crates/nu-cli/src/cli.rs b/crates/nu-cli/src/cli.rs
index 59d5fa4e09..6981522279 100644
--- a/crates/nu-cli/src/cli.rs
+++ b/crates/nu-cli/src/cli.rs
@@ -372,7 +372,7 @@ pub fn cli(
             LineResult::ClearHistory => {
                 if options.save_history {
                     rl.clear_history();
-                    let _ = rl.append_history(&history_path);
+                    std::fs::remove_file(&history_path)?;
                 }
             }