diff --git a/control/freqplot.py b/control/freqplot.py
index 9bb713216..315a9635b 100644
--- a/control/freqplot.py
+++ b/control/freqplot.py
@@ -176,7 +176,7 @@ def bode_plot(syslist, omega=None, dB=None, Hz=None, deg=None,
                     pltline = ax_mag.semilogx(omega_plot, 20 * np.log10(mag), *args, **kwargs)
                 else:
                     pltline = ax_mag.loglog(omega_plot, mag, *args, **kwargs)
-                plt.hold(True);
+
                 if nyquistfrq_plot:
                     ax_mag.axvline(nyquistfrq_plot, color=pltline[0].get_color())
 
@@ -191,7 +191,7 @@ def bode_plot(syslist, omega=None, dB=None, Hz=None, deg=None,
                 else:
                     phase_plot = phase
                 ax_phase.semilogx(omega_plot, phase_plot, *args, **kwargs)
-                ax_phase.hold(True);
+
                 if nyquistfrq_plot:
                     ax_phase.axvline(nyquistfrq_plot, color=pltline[0].get_color())
 
diff --git a/control/phaseplot.py b/control/phaseplot.py
index ec9b40fc9..a434985ae 100644
--- a/control/phaseplot.py
+++ b/control/phaseplot.py
@@ -212,7 +212,7 @@ def phase_plot(odefun, X=None, Y=None, scale=1, X0=None, T=None,
     for i in range(nr):
         state = odeint(odefun, X0[i], TSPAN, args=parms);
         time = TSPAN
-        mpl.hold(True);
+
         mpl.plot(state[:,0], state[:,1])
         #! TODO: add back in colors for stream lines
         # PP_stream_color(np.mod(i-1, len(PP_stream_color))+1));