diff --git a/novelwriter/gui/projtree.py b/novelwriter/gui/projtree.py
index d335f99b..843eb687 100644
--- a/novelwriter/gui/projtree.py
+++ b/novelwriter/gui/projtree.py
@@ -1390,11 +1390,6 @@ class GuiProjectTree(QTreeWidget):
 
         return
 
-    def _getItemWordCount(self, tHandle: str) -> int:
-        """Return the word count of a given item handle."""
-        tItem = self._getTreeItem(tHandle)
-        return int(tItem.data(self.C_DATA, self.D_WORDS)) if tItem else 0
-
     def _getTreeItem(self, tHandle: str | None) -> QTreeWidgetItem | None:
         """Return the QTreeWidgetItem of a given item handle."""
         return self._treeMap.get(tHandle, None) if tHandle else None
diff --git a/tests/test_gui/test_gui_projtree.py b/tests/test_gui/test_gui_projtree.py
index cc0a96cb..af14b26c 100644
--- a/tests/test_gui/test_gui_projtree.py
+++ b/tests/test_gui/test_gui_projtree.py
@@ -108,7 +108,6 @@ def testGuiProjTree_NewItems(qtbot, caplog, monkeypatch, nwGUI, projPath, mockRn
     assert project.tree["0000000000013"].itemClass == nwItemClass.NOVEL  # type: ignore
     assert nwGUI.openDocument("0000000000013")
     assert nwGUI.docEditor.getText() == "## New Chapter\n\n"
-    assert projTree._getItemWordCount("0000000000013") == 2
 
     # Add a new scene next to the other new file
     projView.setSelectedHandle("0000000000012")
@@ -118,7 +117,6 @@ def testGuiProjTree_NewItems(qtbot, caplog, monkeypatch, nwGUI, projPath, mockRn
     assert project.tree["0000000000014"].itemClass == nwItemClass.NOVEL  # type: ignore
     assert nwGUI.openDocument("0000000000014")
     assert nwGUI.docEditor.getText() == "### New Scene\n\n"
-    assert projTree._getItemWordCount("0000000000014") == 2
 
     # Add a new scene with the content copied from the previous
     assert nwGUI.openDocument("0000000000014")
@@ -131,7 +129,6 @@ def testGuiProjTree_NewItems(qtbot, caplog, monkeypatch, nwGUI, projPath, mockRn
     assert project.tree["0000000000015"].itemClass == nwItemClass.NOVEL  # type: ignore
     assert nwGUI.openDocument("0000000000015")
     assert nwGUI.docEditor.getText() == "### New Scene\n\nWith Stuff\n\n"
-    assert projTree._getItemWordCount("0000000000015") == 4
 
     # Add a new file to the characters folder
     projView.setSelectedHandle(C.hCharRoot)
@@ -141,7 +138,6 @@ def testGuiProjTree_NewItems(qtbot, caplog, monkeypatch, nwGUI, projPath, mockRn
     assert project.tree["0000000000016"].itemClass == nwItemClass.CHARACTER  # type: ignore
     assert nwGUI.openDocument("0000000000016")
     assert nwGUI.docEditor.getText() == "# New Note\n\n"
-    assert projTree._getItemWordCount("0000000000016") == 2
 
     # Make sure the sibling folder bug trap works
     projView.setSelectedHandle("0000000000013")