diff --git a/src/doc/DocAnnotator.js b/src/doc/DocAnnotator.js
index 5bbe847eb..dd485f22a 100644
--- a/src/doc/DocAnnotator.js
+++ b/src/doc/DocAnnotator.js
@@ -655,11 +655,11 @@ class DocAnnotator extends Annotator {
         this.isCreatingHighlight = true;
 
         if (this.plainHighlightEnabled) {
-            this.modeControllers[TYPES.highlight].applyActionToThreads((thread) => thread.onMousedown());
+            this.modeControllers[TYPES.highlight].destroyPendingThreads();
         }
 
         if (this.commentHighlightEnabled) {
-            this.modeControllers[TYPES.highlight_comment].applyActionToThreads((thread) => thread.onMousedown());
+            this.modeControllers[TYPES.highlight_comment].destroyPendingThreads();
         }
     };
 
diff --git a/src/doc/DocHighlightThread.js b/src/doc/DocHighlightThread.js
index 66ed8278b..9bcec84c8 100644
--- a/src/doc/DocHighlightThread.js
+++ b/src/doc/DocHighlightThread.js
@@ -129,18 +129,6 @@ class DocHighlightThread extends AnnotationThread {
         }
     };
 
-    /**
-     * Mousedown handler for thread. Deletes this thread if it is still pending.
-     *
-     * @return {void}
-     */
-    onMousedown() {
-        // Destroy pending highlights on mousedown
-        if (this.state === STATES.pending) {
-            this.destroy();
-        }
-    }
-
     /**
      * Click handler for thread. If click is inside this highlight, set the
      * state to be active, and return true. If not, hide the delete highlight
diff --git a/src/doc/__tests__/DocAnnotator-test.js b/src/doc/__tests__/DocAnnotator-test.js
index 3f356d9a2..7ec1f2adc 100644
--- a/src/doc/__tests__/DocAnnotator-test.js
+++ b/src/doc/__tests__/DocAnnotator-test.js
@@ -737,13 +737,13 @@ describe('doc/DocAnnotator', () => {
 
         it('should do nothing if highlights are disabled', () => {
             annotator.highlightMousedownHandler({ clientX: 1, clientY: 1 });
-            expect(thread.onMousedown).not.toBeCalled();
+            expect(controller.destroyPendingThreads).not.toBeCalled();
         });
 
         it('should get highlights on page and call their onMouse down method', () => {
             annotator.plainHighlightEnabled = true;
             annotator.highlightMousedownHandler({ clientX: 1, clientY: 1 });
-            expect(controller.applyActionToThreads).toBeCalled();
+            expect(controller.destroyPendingThreads).toBeCalled();
         });
     });
 
diff --git a/src/doc/__tests__/DocHighlightThread-test.js b/src/doc/__tests__/DocHighlightThread-test.js
index 5e1cf2bae..5dc197267 100644
--- a/src/doc/__tests__/DocHighlightThread-test.js
+++ b/src/doc/__tests__/DocHighlightThread-test.js
@@ -85,15 +85,6 @@ describe('doc/DocHighlightThread', () => {
         });
     });
 
-    describe('onMousedown()', () => {
-        it('should destroy the thread when annotation is in pending state', () => {
-            thread.state = STATES.pending;
-            thread.destroy = jest.fn();
-            thread.onMousedown();
-            expect(thread.destroy).toBeCalled();
-        });
-    });
-
     describe('onClick()', () => {
         it('should set annotation to inactive if event has already been consumed', () => {
             thread.state = STATES.active;