diff --git a/Cython/Compiler/Builtin.py b/Cython/Compiler/Builtin.py
index 59378acf626952fef6de3c2eab85a373a8ac97f3..7435180f8070c1b1dde76c1123d8a502f4d7e3b5 100644
--- a/Cython/Compiler/Builtin.py
+++ b/Cython/Compiler/Builtin.py
@@ -457,6 +457,8 @@ builtin_types_table = [
     ("dict",    "PyDict_Type",     [BuiltinMethod("items", "T",   "O", "PyDict_Items"),  # FIXME: Py3 mode?
                                     BuiltinMethod("keys",  "T",   "O", "PyDict_Keys"),   # FIXME: Py3 mode?
                                     BuiltinMethod("values","T",   "O", "PyDict_Values"), # FIXME: Py3 mode?
+                                    BuiltinMethod("clear", "T",   "r", "__Pyx_PyDict_Clear",
+                                                  utility_code = UtilityCode.load_cached("py_dict_clear", "Optimize.c")),
                                     BuiltinMethod("copy",  "T",   "T", "PyDict_Copy")]),
 
     ("slice",   "PySlice_Type",    [BuiltinAttribute('start'),
diff --git a/Cython/Compiler/Optimize.py b/Cython/Compiler/Optimize.py
index ba068e2d74f0f2ec6d1da083506cca1b163323d3..489d15da508d352b4812d2ca677142949f925981 100644
--- a/Cython/Compiler/Optimize.py
+++ b/Cython/Compiler/Optimize.py
@@ -2288,34 +2288,6 @@ class OptimizeBuiltinCalls(Visitor.EnvTransform):
 
     ### methods of builtin types
 
-    PyDict_Clear_func_type = PyrexTypes.CFuncType(
-        PyrexTypes.c_void_type, [
-            PyrexTypes.CFuncTypeArg("dict", Builtin.dict_type, None)
-            ])
-
-    PyDict_Clear_Retval_func_type = PyrexTypes.CFuncType(
-        PyrexTypes.py_object_type, [
-            PyrexTypes.CFuncTypeArg("dict", Builtin.dict_type, None)
-            ])
-
-    def _handle_simple_method_dict_clear(self, node, args, is_unbound_method):
-        """Optimise dict.clear() differently, depending on the use (or
-        non-use) of the return value.
-        """
-        if len(args) != 1:
-            return node
-        if node.result_is_used:
-            return self._substitute_method_call(
-                node, "__Pyx_PyDict_Clear", self.PyDict_Clear_Retval_func_type,
-                'clear', is_unbound_method, args,
-                may_return_none=True, is_temp=True,
-                utility_code=load_c_utility('py_dict_clear')
-                ).coerce_to(node.type, self.current_env)
-        else:
-            return self._substitute_method_call(
-                node, "PyDict_Clear", self.PyDict_Clear_func_type,
-                'clear', is_unbound_method, args, is_temp=False)
-
     PyObject_Append_func_type = PyrexTypes.CFuncType(
         PyrexTypes.py_object_type, [
             PyrexTypes.CFuncTypeArg("list", PyrexTypes.py_object_type, None),
diff --git a/Cython/Utility/Optimize.c b/Cython/Utility/Optimize.c
index 7832ac6bd33f815da301a0c89ad3768dcd46e2dc..72126f59884bf4e09454513874df1521b7de6e9c 100644
--- a/Cython/Utility/Optimize.c
+++ b/Cython/Utility/Optimize.c
@@ -309,11 +309,7 @@ static PyObject *__Pyx_PyDict_SetDefault(PyObject *d, PyObject *key, PyObject *d
 
 /////////////// py_dict_clear.proto ///////////////
 
-static CYTHON_INLINE PyObject* __Pyx_PyDict_Clear(PyObject* d) {
-    PyDict_Clear(d);
-    Py_INCREF(Py_None);
-    return Py_None;
-}
+#define __Pyx_PyDict_Clear(d) (PyDict_Clear(d), 0)
 
 /////////////// dict_iter.proto ///////////////
 
diff --git a/tests/run/builtin_methods_return_values.pyx b/tests/run/builtin_methods_return_values.pyx
index 0d17f64560b3c1f40080821e101586601357a55e..50f1427ca8427469e643a98042a122a8ba59002d 100644
--- a/tests/run/builtin_methods_return_values.pyx
+++ b/tests/run/builtin_methods_return_values.pyx
@@ -68,6 +68,9 @@ def set_clear(set s):
     """
     >>> set_clear(_set([1,2,3])) is None
     True
+    >>> set_clear(None)
+    Traceback (most recent call last):
+    AttributeError: 'NoneType' object has no attribute 'clear'
     """
     s.clear()
     return s.clear()
@@ -92,6 +95,9 @@ def dict_clear(dict d):
     """
     >>> dict_clear({1:2,3:4}) is None
     True
+    >>> dict_clear(None)
+    Traceback (most recent call last):
+    AttributeError: 'NoneType' object has no attribute 'clear'
     """
     d.clear()
     return d.clear()