diff --git a/src/insets/Inset.h b/src/insets/Inset.h
index 526ede20b7..b8fd6377d7 100644
--- a/src/insets/Inset.h
+++ b/src/insets/Inset.h
@@ -183,6 +183,8 @@ public:
 	virtual void edit(Cursor & cur, bool front, 
 		EntryDirection entry_from = ENTRY_DIRECTION_IGNORE);
 	/// cursor enters
+	/// Note: this method must preserve the selection status. See:
+	/// https://www.mail-archive.com/lyx-devel@lists.lyx.org/msg199001.html
 	virtual Inset * editXY(Cursor & cur, int x, int y);
 
 	/// compute the size of the object returned in dim
diff --git a/src/insets/InsetTabular.cpp b/src/insets/InsetTabular.cpp
index a6a280551a..88817357c1 100644
--- a/src/insets/InsetTabular.cpp
+++ b/src/insets/InsetTabular.cpp
@@ -5185,7 +5185,6 @@ int InsetTabular::dist(BufferView & bv, idx_type const cell, int x, int y) const
 Inset * InsetTabular::editXY(Cursor & cur, int x, int y)
 {
 	//lyxerr << "InsetTabular::editXY: " << this << endl;
-	cur.selection(false);
 	cur.push(*this);
 	cur.idx() = getNearestCell(cur.bv(), x, y);
 	return cur.bv().textMetrics(&cell(cur.idx())->text()).editXY(cur, x, y);