diff --git a/java/openapi/src/com/intellij/util/VisibilityUtil.java b/java/openapi/src/com/intellij/util/VisibilityUtil.java
index fe72be59937d..ed443049cf0d 100644
--- a/java/openapi/src/com/intellij/util/VisibilityUtil.java
+++ b/java/openapi/src/com/intellij/util/VisibilityUtil.java
@@ -138,9 +138,6 @@ public class VisibilityUtil  {
   }
 
   public static void setVisibility(PsiModifierList modifierList, @PsiModifier.ModifierConstant String newVisibility) throws IncorrectOperationException {
-    modifierList.setModifierProperty(PsiModifier.PRIVATE, false);
-    modifierList.setModifierProperty(PsiModifier.PUBLIC, false);
-    modifierList.setModifierProperty(PsiModifier.PROTECTED, false);
     modifierList.setModifierProperty(newVisibility, true);
   }