diff --git a/setools/descriptors.py b/setools/descriptors.py
index 560e9a8..8f67957 100644
--- a/setools/descriptors.py
+++ b/setools/descriptors.py
@@ -197,9 +197,7 @@ class EdgeAttrList(NetworkXGraphEdgeDescriptor):
             raise ValueError("{0} lists should not be assigned directly".format(self.name))
 
     def __delete__(self, obj):
-        # in Python3 a .clear() function was added for lists
-        # keep this implementation for Python 2 compat
-        del obj.G[obj.source][obj.target][self.name][:]
+        obj.G[obj.source][obj.target][self.name].clear()
 
 
 #
diff --git a/setoolsgui/apol/permmapedit.py b/setoolsgui/apol/permmapedit.py
index 9217a1c..2215fea 100644
--- a/setoolsgui/apol/permmapedit.py
+++ b/setoolsgui/apol/permmapedit.py
@@ -138,9 +138,7 @@ class PermissionMapEditor(SEToolsWidget, QDialog):
         for mapping in self.widgets:
             mapping.close()
 
-        # in Python3 a .clear() function was added for lists
-        # keep this implementation for Python 2 compat
-        del self.widgets[:]
+        self.widgets.clear()
 
 
 index_to_setting = ["r", "w", "b", "n"]