diff --git a/qutebrowser/mainwindow/statusbar/command.py b/qutebrowser/mainwindow/statusbar/command.py
index 410e578c9..3647d9859 100644
--- a/qutebrowser/mainwindow/statusbar/command.py
+++ b/qutebrowser/mainwindow/statusbar/command.py
@@ -55,12 +55,13 @@ class Command(misc.MinimalLineEditMixin, misc.CommandLineEdit):
     hide_cmd = pyqtSignal()
 
     def __init__(self, *, win_id, private, parent=None):
-        misc.CommandLineEdit.__init__(self, private=private, parent=parent)
+        misc.CommandLineEdit.__init__(self, parent=parent)
         misc.MinimalLineEditMixin.__init__(self)
         self._win_id = win_id
-        command_history = objreg.get('command-history')
-        self.history.history = command_history.data
-        self.history.changed.connect(command_history.changed)
+        if not private:
+            command_history = objreg.get('command-history')
+            self.history.history = command_history.data
+            self.history.changed.connect(command_history.changed)
         self.setSizePolicy(QSizePolicy.MinimumExpanding, QSizePolicy.Ignored)
         self.cursorPositionChanged.connect(self.update_completion)
         self.textChanged.connect(self.update_completion)
diff --git a/qutebrowser/misc/cmdhistory.py b/qutebrowser/misc/cmdhistory.py
index cb60c84f6..baf210a68 100644
--- a/qutebrowser/misc/cmdhistory.py
+++ b/qutebrowser/misc/cmdhistory.py
@@ -45,7 +45,6 @@ class History(QObject):
     Attributes:
         history: A list of executed commands, with newer commands at the end.
         _tmphist: Temporary history for history browsing (as NeighborList)
-        _private: Whether this history is in private browsing mode.
 
     Signals:
         changed: Emitted when an entry was added to the history.
@@ -53,7 +52,7 @@ class History(QObject):
 
     changed = pyqtSignal()
 
-    def __init__(self, *, private=False, history=None, parent=None):
+    def __init__(self, *, history=None, parent=None):
         """Constructor.
 
         Args:
@@ -61,7 +60,6 @@ class History(QObject):
         """
         super().__init__(parent)
         self._tmphist = None
-        self._private = private
         if history is None:
             self.history = []
         else:
@@ -128,8 +126,6 @@ class History(QObject):
         Args:
             text: The text to append.
         """
-        if self._private:
-            return
         if not self.history or text != self.history[-1]:
             self.history.append(text)
             self.changed.emit()
diff --git a/qutebrowser/misc/miscwidgets.py b/qutebrowser/misc/miscwidgets.py
index 75f941fd8..b4a17e638 100644
--- a/qutebrowser/misc/miscwidgets.py
+++ b/qutebrowser/misc/miscwidgets.py
@@ -69,9 +69,9 @@ class CommandLineEdit(QLineEdit):
         _promptlen: The length of the current prompt.
     """
 
-    def __init__(self, *, private=False, parent=None):
+    def __init__(self, *, parent=None):
         super().__init__(parent)
-        self.history = cmdhistory.History(private=private, parent=self)
+        self.history = cmdhistory.History(parent=self)
         self._validator = _CommandValidator(self)
         self.setValidator(self._validator)
         self.textEdited.connect(self.on_text_edited)