diff --git a/src/mathed/math_atom.C b/src/mathed/math_atom.C
index a8e2815a0f..2df8786f85 100644
--- a/src/mathed/math_atom.C
+++ b/src/mathed/math_atom.C
@@ -48,22 +48,7 @@ void MathAtom::operator=(MathAtom const & at)
 }
 
 
-void MathAtom::operator=(MathInset * p)
-{
-	reset(p);
-}
-
-
 MathAtom::~MathAtom()
 {
 	delete nucleus_;
 }
-
-
-void MathAtom::reset(MathInset * p)
-{
-	if (p == nucleus_)
-		return;
-	delete nucleus_;
-	nucleus_ = p;
-}
diff --git a/src/mathed/math_atom.h b/src/mathed/math_atom.h
index 4a7d1c1a51..0e99e20efb 100644
--- a/src/mathed/math_atom.h
+++ b/src/mathed/math_atom.h
@@ -45,10 +45,6 @@ public:
 	~MathAtom();
 	/// assignment invokes nucleus_->clone()
 	void operator=(MathAtom const &);
-	/// change inset under the hood
-	void operator=(MathInset * p);
-	/// change inset under the hood
-	void reset(MathInset * p);
 	/// access to the inset (checked with gprof)
 	MathInset const * nucleus() const { return nucleus_; }
 	MathInset       * nucleus()       { return nucleus_; }
diff --git a/src/mathed/math_parser.C b/src/mathed/math_parser.C
index 4a38a0eb4f..a1a4ab693c 100644
--- a/src/mathed/math_parser.C
+++ b/src/mathed/math_parser.C
@@ -506,7 +506,7 @@ bool Parser::parse(MathAtom & at)
 	parse(ar, false, MathInset::UNDECIDED_MODE);
 	if (ar.size() != 1 || ar.front()->getType() == "none") {
 		lyxerr << "unusual contents found: " << ar << endl;
-		at.reset(new MathParInset);
+		at = MathAtom(new MathParInset);
 		if (at->nargs() > 0)
 			at->cell(0) = ar;
 		else