diff --git a/src/lib/builtins.pl b/src/lib/builtins.pl
index d96e0a16..89a50e7d 100644
--- a/src/lib/builtins.pl
+++ b/src/lib/builtins.pl
@@ -1016,7 +1016,7 @@ retract(Clause) :-
 :- meta_predicate retractall(0).
 
 retractall(Head) :-
-   retract((Head :- _)),
+   retract_clause(Head, _),
    false.
 retractall(_).