diff --git a/lisp/calc/calc.el b/lisp/calc/calc.el
index f129552c9a4..06ccb0f0cfa 100644
--- a/lisp/calc/calc.el
+++ b/lisp/calc/calc.el
@@ -2477,7 +2477,7 @@ the United States."
 (defun calcDigit-backspace ()
   (interactive)
   (cond ((eq last-command 'calcDigit-start)
-	 (erase-buffer))
+	 (delete-minibuffer-contents))
 	(t (backward-delete-char 1)))
   (if (= (calc-minibuffer-size) 0)
       (progn