diff --git a/src/normal.c b/src/normal.c
index e44b513..d8487e6 100644
--- a/src/normal.c
+++ b/src/normal.c
@@ -7236,8 +7236,7 @@
     int		was_visual = FALSE;
     int		dir;
     int		flags = 0;
-    int		save_unnamed = FALSE;
-    yankreg_T	*old_y_current, *old_y_previous;
+    int		keep_registers = FALSE;
 
     if (cap->oap->op_type != OP_NOP)
     {
@@ -7284,7 +7283,7 @@
 	    // overwrites if the old contents is being put.
 	    was_visual = TRUE;
 	    regname = cap->oap->regname;
-	    save_unnamed = cap->cmdchar == 'P';
+	    keep_registers = cap->cmdchar == 'P';
 #ifdef FEAT_CLIPBOARD
 	    adjust_clip_reg(&regname);
 #endif
@@ -7302,26 +7301,15 @@
 	    }
 
 	    // Now delete the selected text. Avoid messages here.
-	    if (save_unnamed)
-	    {
-		old_y_current = get_y_current();
-		old_y_previous = get_y_previous();
-	    }
 	    cap->cmdchar = 'd';
 	    cap->nchar = NUL;
-	    cap->oap->regname = NUL;
+	    cap->oap->regname = keep_registers ? '_' : NUL;
 	    ++msg_silent;
 	    nv_operator(cap);
 	    do_pending_operator(cap, 0, FALSE);
 	    empty = (curbuf->b_ml.ml_flags & ML_EMPTY);
 	    --msg_silent;
 
-	    if (save_unnamed)
-	    {
-		set_y_current(old_y_current);
-		set_y_previous(old_y_previous);
-	    }
-
 	    // delete PUT_LINE_BACKWARD;
 	    cap->oap->regname = regname;