diff --git a/spec/text-editor-element-spec.coffee b/spec/text-editor-element-spec.coffee
index 858d835a5..cbcc5fc16 100644
--- a/spec/text-editor-element-spec.coffee
+++ b/spec/text-editor-element-spec.coffee
@@ -30,17 +30,6 @@ describe "TextEditorElement", ->
       element = jasmineContent.firstChild
       expect(element.getModel().getText()).toBe 'testing'
 
-  describe "when attributes change", ->
-    it "honors addition/removal of the 'gutter-hidden' attribute", ->
-      element = new TextEditorElement
-      expect(element.getModel().isGutterVisible()).toBe true
-
-      element.setAttributeNode(document.createAttribute("gutter-hidden"))
-      expect(element.getModel().isGutterVisible()).toBe false
-
-      element.removeAttribute('gutter-hidden')
-      expect(element.getModel().isGutterVisible()).toBe true
-
   describe "when the model is assigned", ->
     it "adds the 'mini' attribute if .isMini() returns true on the model", ->
       element = new TextEditorElement
diff --git a/src/text-editor-element.coffee b/src/text-editor-element.coffee
index 3e4f7924e..38b980b65 100644
--- a/src/text-editor-element.coffee
+++ b/src/text-editor-element.coffee
@@ -71,10 +71,6 @@ class TextEditorElement extends HTMLElement
     @unmountComponent()
     @emitter.emit("did-detach")
 
-  attributeChangedCallback: (name, oldValue, newValue) ->
-    if name is 'gutter-hidden'
-      @getModel().setGutterVisible(not @hasAttribute('gutter-hidden'))
-
   initialize: (model) ->
     @setModel(model)
     this