diff --git a/lua/diffs/init.lua b/lua/diffs/init.lua
index e64bf40..b3f2800 100644
--- a/lua/diffs/init.lua
+++ b/lua/diffs/init.lua
@@ -247,7 +247,7 @@ end
 
 ---@param old_entry diffs.HunkCacheEntry
 ---@param new_hunks diffs.Hunk[]
----@return table<integer, true>?
+---@return table<integer, true>
 local function carry_forward_highlighted(old_entry, new_hunks)
   local old_hunks = old_entry.hunks
   local old_hl = old_entry.highlighted
@@ -288,9 +288,6 @@ local function carry_forward_highlighted(old_entry, new_hunks)
     old_n,
     new_n
   )
-  if next(highlighted) == nil then
-    return nil
-  end
   return highlighted
 end
 
@@ -732,7 +729,6 @@ local function init()
       ensure_cache(bufnr)
       local entry = hunk_cache[bufnr]
       if entry and entry.pending_clear then
-        vim.api.nvim_buf_clear_namespace(bufnr, ns, 0, -1)
         entry.highlighted = {}
         entry.pending_clear = false
       end
@@ -931,22 +927,12 @@ function M.get_conflict_config()
   return config.conflict
 end
 
-local function process_pending_clear(bufnr)
-  local entry = hunk_cache[bufnr]
-  if entry and entry.pending_clear then
-    vim.api.nvim_buf_clear_namespace(bufnr, ns, 0, -1)
-    entry.highlighted = {}
-    entry.pending_clear = false
-  end
-end
-
 M._test = {
   find_visible_hunks = find_visible_hunks,
   hunk_cache = hunk_cache,
   ensure_cache = ensure_cache,
   invalidate_cache = invalidate_cache,
   hunks_eq = hunks_eq,
-  process_pending_clear = process_pending_clear,
 }
 
 return M
diff --git a/spec/decoration_provider_spec.lua b/spec/decoration_provider_spec.lua
index 172ca11..4b7b2dd 100644
--- a/spec/decoration_provider_spec.lua
+++ b/spec/decoration_provider_spec.lua
@@ -122,31 +122,6 @@ describe('decoration_provider', function()
       assert.is_true(entry.pending_clear)
       delete_buffer(bufnr)
     end)
-
-    it('clears namespace extmarks when on_buf processes pending_clear', function()
-      local bufnr = create_buffer({
-        'M test.lua',
-        '@@ -1,1 +1,2 @@',
-        ' local x = 1',
-        '+local y = 2',
-      })
-      diffs.attach(bufnr)
-      local ns_id = vim.api.nvim_create_namespace('diffs')
-      vim.api.nvim_buf_set_extmark(bufnr, ns_id, 0, 0, { line_hl_group = 'DiffAdd' })
-      assert.are.equal(1, #vim.api.nvim_buf_get_extmarks(bufnr, ns_id, 0, -1, {}))
-
-      diffs._test.invalidate_cache(bufnr)
-      diffs._test.ensure_cache(bufnr)
-      local entry = diffs._test.hunk_cache[bufnr]
-      assert.is_true(entry.pending_clear)
-
-      diffs._test.process_pending_clear(bufnr)
-
-      entry = diffs._test.hunk_cache[bufnr]
-      assert.is_false(entry.pending_clear)
-      assert.are.same({}, vim.api.nvim_buf_get_extmarks(bufnr, ns_id, 0, -1, {}))
-      delete_buffer(bufnr)
-    end)
   end)
 
   describe('BufWipeout cleanup', function()
@@ -287,7 +262,7 @@ describe('decoration_provider', function()
 
       local updated = diffs._test.hunk_cache[bufnr]
       assert.is_nil(updated.highlighted[1])
-      assert.is_true(updated.pending_clear)
+      assert.is_false(updated.pending_clear)
       delete_buffer(bufnr)
     end)
   end)