diff --git a/lib/readline.js b/lib/readline.js
index 89dd1b84f2dde0..835741a41a6c54 100644
--- a/lib/readline.js
+++ b/lib/readline.js
@@ -800,10 +800,8 @@ Interface.prototype._ttyWrite = function(s, key) {
         }
         break;
 
-      case 'u': // delete the whole line
-        this.cursor = 0;
-        this.line = '';
-        this._refreshLine();
+      case 'u': // delete from current to start of line
+        this._deleteLineLeft();
         break;
 
       case 'k': // delete from current to end of line