diff --git a/src/Mod/Sketcher/Gui/ViewProviderSketch.cpp b/src/Mod/Sketcher/Gui/ViewProviderSketch.cpp
index dfd625495..56b191936 100644
--- a/src/Mod/Sketcher/Gui/ViewProviderSketch.cpp
+++ b/src/Mod/Sketcher/Gui/ViewProviderSketch.cpp
@@ -258,8 +258,7 @@ void ViewProviderSketch::activateHandler(DrawSketchHandler *newHandler)
     edit->sketchHandler->activated(this);
 }
 
-/// removes the active handler
-void ViewProviderSketch::purgeHandler(void)
+void ViewProviderSketch::deactivateHandler()
 {
     assert(edit);
     assert(edit->sketchHandler != 0);
@@ -267,6 +266,12 @@ void ViewProviderSketch::purgeHandler(void)
     delete(edit->sketchHandler);
     edit->sketchHandler = 0;
     Mode = STATUS_NONE;
+}
+
+/// removes the active handler
+void ViewProviderSketch::purgeHandler(void)
+{
+    deactivateHandler();
 
     // ensure that we are in sketch only selection mode
     Gui::MDIView *mdi = Gui::Application::Instance->activeDocument()->getActiveView();
@@ -3240,7 +3245,7 @@ void ViewProviderSketch::unsetEdit(int ModNum)
     pcRoot->removeChild(edit->EditRoot);
 
     if (edit->sketchHandler)
-        purgeHandler();
+        deactivateHandler();
 
     delete edit;
     edit = 0;
diff --git a/src/Mod/Sketcher/Gui/ViewProviderSketch.h b/src/Mod/Sketcher/Gui/ViewProviderSketch.h
index e699dd269..553c99451 100644
--- a/src/Mod/Sketcher/Gui/ViewProviderSketch.h
+++ b/src/Mod/Sketcher/Gui/ViewProviderSketch.h
@@ -201,6 +201,7 @@ protected:
     virtual void unsetEdit(int ModNum);
     virtual void setEditViewer(Gui::View3DInventorViewer*, int ModNum);
     virtual void unsetEditViewer(Gui::View3DInventorViewer*);
+    void deactivateHandler();
     /// set up and solve the sketch
     void solveSketch(void);
     /// helper to detect whether the picked point lies on the sketch