diff --git a/utf8.c b/utf8.c
index 87dce597..54cea671 100644
--- a/utf8.c
+++ b/utf8.c
@@ -118,14 +118,6 @@ utf8_width(wchar_t wc)
 	width = wcwidth(wc);
 	if (width < 0 || width > 0xff) {
 		log_debug("Unicode %04x, wcwidth() %d", wc, width);
-
-		/*
-		 * Many platforms have no width for relatively common
-		 * characters (wcwidth() returns -1); assume width 1 in this
-		 * case and hope for the best.
-		 */
-		if (width < 0)
-			return (1);
 		return (-1);
 	}
 	return (width);