diff --git a/packages/jupyterlab-lsp/src/features/hover.ts b/packages/jupyterlab-lsp/src/features/hover.ts
index 4f80952f7..d5b652180 100644
--- a/packages/jupyterlab-lsp/src/features/hover.ts
+++ b/packages/jupyterlab-lsp/src/features/hover.ts
@@ -322,6 +322,7 @@ export class HoverCM extends CodeMirrorIntegration {
 
     // if over an empty space in a line (and not over a token) then not worth checking
     if (target.classList.contains('CodeMirror-line')) {
+      this.remove_range_highlight();
       return;
     }