diff --git a/cmd/restic/progress.go b/cmd/restic/progress.go
index 48aa209a6..d9ff634ce 100644
--- a/cmd/restic/progress.go
+++ b/cmd/restic/progress.go
@@ -53,7 +53,7 @@ func newGenericProgressMax(show bool, max uint64, description string, print func
 func newTerminalProgressMax(show bool, max uint64, description string, term *termstatus.Terminal) *progress.Counter {
 	return newGenericProgressMax(show, max, description, func(status string, final bool) {
 		if final {
-			term.SetStatus([]string{})
+			term.SetStatus(nil)
 			term.Print(status)
 		} else {
 			term.SetStatus([]string{status})
diff --git a/internal/ui/backup/text.go b/internal/ui/backup/text.go
index 43e963b82..f96746739 100644
--- a/internal/ui/backup/text.go
+++ b/internal/ui/backup/text.go
@@ -121,7 +121,7 @@ func (b *TextProgress) ReportTotal(start time.Time, s archiver.ScanStats) {
 // Reset status
 func (b *TextProgress) Reset() {
 	if b.term.CanUpdateStatus() {
-		b.term.SetStatus([]string{""})
+		b.term.SetStatus(nil)
 	}
 }
 
diff --git a/internal/ui/restore/text.go b/internal/ui/restore/text.go
index 2f0b3c01f..235e7f085 100644
--- a/internal/ui/restore/text.go
+++ b/internal/ui/restore/text.go
@@ -62,7 +62,7 @@ func (t *textPrinter) CompleteItem(messageType ItemAction, item string, size uin
 }
 
 func (t *textPrinter) Finish(p State, duration time.Duration) {
-	t.terminal.SetStatus([]string{})
+	t.terminal.SetStatus(nil)
 
 	timeLeft := ui.FormatDuration(duration)
 	formattedAllBytesTotal := ui.FormatBytes(p.AllBytesTotal)
diff --git a/internal/ui/termstatus/status.go b/internal/ui/termstatus/status.go
index 4a73ce5b3..39654cc8c 100644
--- a/internal/ui/termstatus/status.go
+++ b/internal/ui/termstatus/status.go
@@ -315,11 +315,8 @@ func sanitizeLines(lines []string, width int) []string {
 
 // SetStatus updates the status lines.
 // The lines should not contain newlines; this method adds them.
+// Pass nil or an empty array to remove the status lines.
 func (t *Terminal) SetStatus(lines []string) {
-	if len(lines) == 0 {
-		return
-	}
-
 	// only truncate interactive status output
 	var width int
 	if t.canUpdateStatus {
diff --git a/internal/ui/termstatus/status_test.go b/internal/ui/termstatus/status_test.go
index 997a2d7b1..2a17a905a 100644
--- a/internal/ui/termstatus/status_test.go
+++ b/internal/ui/termstatus/status_test.go
@@ -32,6 +32,15 @@ func TestSetStatus(t *testing.T) {
 	term.SetStatus([]string{"first"})
 	exp := home + clear + "first" + home
 
+	term.SetStatus([]string{""})
+	exp += home + clear + "" + home
+
+	term.SetStatus([]string{})
+	exp += home + clear + "" + home
+
+	// already empty status
+	term.SetStatus([]string{})
+
 	term.SetStatus([]string{"foo", "bar", "baz"})
 	exp += home + clear + "foo\n" + home + clear + "bar\n" +
 		home + clear + "baz" + home + up + up