diff --git a/libinterp/corefcn/variables.cc b/libinterp/corefcn/variables.cc
--- a/libinterp/corefcn/variables.cc
+++ b/libinterp/corefcn/variables.cc
@@ -2291,7 +2291,7 @@
 @code{b} and end with the letter @code{r}.\n\
 \n\
 If @code{clear} is called without any arguments, all user-defined\n\
-variables (local and global) are cleared from the symbol table.  If\n\
+variables in the current workspace are cleared from the symbol table.  If\n\
 @code{clear} is called with at least one argument, only the visible\n\
 names matching the arguments are cleared.  For example, suppose you have\n\
 defined a function @code{foo}, and then hidden it by performing the\n\
@@ -2341,7 +2341,6 @@
     {
       if (argc == 1)
         {
-          do_clear_globals (argv, argc, true);
           do_clear_variables (argv, argc, true);
 
           octave_link::clear_workspace ();