diff --git a/pyface/ui/qt4/application_window.py b/pyface/ui/qt4/application_window.py
index b6ad6ba3d..e50c89717 100644
--- a/pyface/ui/qt4/application_window.py
+++ b/pyface/ui/qt4/application_window.py
@@ -177,7 +177,7 @@ def _menu_bar_manager_updated(self, event):
     def _status_bar_manager_updated(self, event):
         if self.control is not None:
             if event.old is not None:
-                event.old.destroy_status_bar()
+                event.old.destroy()
             self._create_status_bar(self.control)
 
     @observe("tool_bar_manager, tool_bar_managers.items")
diff --git a/pyface/ui/wx/application_window.py b/pyface/ui/wx/application_window.py
index 74b1665f4..cfc54c3c7 100644
--- a/pyface/ui/wx/application_window.py
+++ b/pyface/ui/wx/application_window.py
@@ -222,7 +222,7 @@ def _status_bar_manager_changed(self, old, new):
         if self.control is not None:
             if old is not None:
                 self.control.SetStatusBar(None)
-                old.remove_status_bar(self.control)
+                old.destroy(self.control)
             self._create_status_bar(self.control)
 
     @observe("tool_bar_manager, tool_bar_managers.items")