diff --git a/doc/changelog.asciidoc b/doc/changelog.asciidoc
index 8dcb4cee3..e253e26a5 100644
--- a/doc/changelog.asciidoc
+++ b/doc/changelog.asciidoc
@@ -53,6 +53,8 @@ Fixed
   Python upgrade) should now not crash anymore.
 - When the QtWebEngine resources dir couldn't be found, qutebrowser now doesn't
   crash anymore (but QtWebEngine still might).
+- Fixed a rare crash in the completion widget when there was no selection model
+  when we went to clear that, probably when leaving a mode. (#7901)
 
 [[v3.1.1]]
 v3.1.1 (unreleased)
diff --git a/qutebrowser/completion/completionwidget.py b/qutebrowser/completion/completionwidget.py
index 0f5dc0de9..27e631662 100644
--- a/qutebrowser/completion/completionwidget.py
+++ b/qutebrowser/completion/completionwidget.py
@@ -414,7 +414,7 @@ class CompletionView(QTreeView):
     def on_clear_completion_selection(self):
         """Clear the selection model when an item is activated."""
         self.hide()
-        selmod = self._selection_model()
+        selmod = self.selectionModel()
         if selmod is not None:
             selmod.clearSelection()
             selmod.clearCurrentIndex()
diff --git a/tests/unit/completion/test_completionwidget.py b/tests/unit/completion/test_completionwidget.py
index 4ab9dfca0..387339f4f 100644
--- a/tests/unit/completion/test_completionwidget.py
+++ b/tests/unit/completion/test_completionwidget.py
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@
 from unittest import mock
 
 import pytest
-from qutebrowser.qt.core import QRect
+from qutebrowser.qt.core import QRect, QItemSelectionModel
 
 from qutebrowser.completion import completionwidget
 from qutebrowser.completion.models import completionmodel, listcategory
@@ -285,6 +285,23 @@ def test_completion_show(show, rows, quick_complete, completionview, model,
     assert not completionview.isVisible()
 
 
+def test_completion_selection_clear_no_model(completionview):
+    completionview.show()
+    completionview.on_clear_completion_selection()
+    assert completionview.isVisible() is False
+
+
+def test_completion_selection_clear_with_model(completionview, mocker):
+    selmod = mock.Mock(spec=QItemSelectionModel)
+    mocker.patch.object(completionview, "selectionModel", return_value=selmod)
+    completionview.show()
+    completionview.on_clear_completion_selection()
+
+    assert completionview.isVisible() is False
+    selmod.clearSelection.assert_called_once()
+    selmod.clearCurrentIndex.assert_called_once()
+
+
 def test_completion_item_del(completionview, model):
     """Test that completion_item_del invokes delete_cur_item in the model."""
     func = mock.Mock(spec=[])