diff --git a/common/reporter.cpp b/common/reporter.cpp
index 7a97938e9d..1231f9e603 100644
--- a/common/reporter.cpp
+++ b/common/reporter.cpp
@@ -65,12 +65,6 @@ REPORTER& WX_TEXT_CTRL_REPORTER::Report( const wxString& aText, SEVERITY aSeveri
 }
 
 
-bool WX_TEXT_CTRL_REPORTER::HasMessage() const
-{
-    return !m_textCtrl->IsEmpty();
-}
-
-
 REPORTER& WX_STRING_REPORTER::Report( const wxString& aText, SEVERITY aSeverity )
 {
     REPORTER::Report( aText, aSeverity );
@@ -93,12 +87,6 @@ void WX_STRING_REPORTER::Clear()
 }
 
 
-bool WX_STRING_REPORTER::HasMessage() const
-{
-    return !m_string.IsEmpty();
-}
-
-
 REPORTER& NULL_REPORTER::Report( const wxString& aText, SEVERITY aSeverity )
 {
     return REPORTER::Report( aText, aSeverity );
@@ -231,12 +219,3 @@ REPORTER& STATUSBAR_REPORTER::Report( const wxString& aText, SEVERITY aSeverity
 
     return *this;
 }
-
-
-bool STATUSBAR_REPORTER::HasMessage() const
-{
-    if( m_statusBar )
-        return !m_statusBar->GetStatusText( m_position ).IsEmpty();
-
-    return false;
-}
diff --git a/include/reporter.h b/include/reporter.h
index 7cdd86efd6..2ecc5982c0 100644
--- a/include/reporter.h
+++ b/include/reporter.h
@@ -73,7 +73,7 @@ class KICOMMON_API REPORTER
 {
 public:
     REPORTER() :
-            m_severityMask( 0 )
+            m_reportedSeverityMask( 0 )
     { }
 
     virtual ~REPORTER()
@@ -102,7 +102,7 @@ public:
     virtual REPORTER& Report( const wxString& aText,
                               SEVERITY aSeverity = RPT_SEVERITY_UNDEFINED )
     {
-        m_severityMask |= aSeverity;
+        m_reportedSeverityMask |= aSeverity;
         return *this;
     }
 
@@ -129,11 +129,11 @@ public:
     REPORTER& operator <<( const wxString& aText ) { return Report( aText ); }
 
     /**
-     * Returns true if the reporter client is non-empty.
+     * Returns true if any messages were reported.
      */
     virtual bool HasMessage() const
     {
-        return m_severityMask != 0;
+        return m_reportedSeverityMask != 0;
     }
 
     /**
@@ -142,7 +142,7 @@ public:
      */
     virtual bool HasMessageOfSeverity( int aSeverityMask ) const
     {
-        return ( m_severityMask & aSeverityMask ) != 0;
+        return ( m_reportedSeverityMask & aSeverityMask ) != 0;
     }
 
     virtual EDA_UNITS GetUnits() const
@@ -152,11 +152,11 @@ public:
 
     virtual void Clear()
     {
-        m_severityMask = 0;
+        m_reportedSeverityMask = 0;
     }
 
 private:
-    int m_severityMask;
+    int m_reportedSeverityMask;
 };
 
 
@@ -179,8 +179,6 @@ public:
     REPORTER& Report( const wxString& aText,
                       SEVERITY aSeverity = RPT_SEVERITY_UNDEFINED ) override;
 
-    bool HasMessage() const override;
-
 private:
     wxTextCtrl* m_textCtrl;
 };
@@ -201,8 +199,6 @@ public:
 
     REPORTER& Report( const wxString& aText, SEVERITY aSeverity = RPT_SEVERITY_UNDEFINED ) override;
 
-    bool HasMessage() const override;
-
     const wxString& GetMessages() const;
     void            Clear() override;
 
@@ -308,8 +304,6 @@ public:
 
     REPORTER& Report( const wxString& aText, SEVERITY aSeverity = RPT_SEVERITY_UNDEFINED ) override;
 
-    bool HasMessage() const override;
-
 private:
     wxStatusBar* m_statusBar;
     int          m_position;
diff --git a/qa/tests/common/test_reporting.cpp b/qa/tests/common/test_reporting.cpp
index 7be573461c..068e76fdd0 100644
--- a/qa/tests/common/test_reporting.cpp
+++ b/qa/tests/common/test_reporting.cpp
@@ -337,17 +337,6 @@ BOOST_AUTO_TEST_CASE( NullReporter_Singleton )
     BOOST_CHECK_EQUAL( &reporter1, &reporter2 );
 }
 
-BOOST_AUTO_TEST_CASE( NullReporter_NoMessages )
-{
-    REPORTER& reporter = NULL_REPORTER::GetInstance();
-
-    BOOST_CHECK( !reporter.HasMessage() );
-
-    reporter.Report( wxT("Test message"), RPT_SEVERITY_INFO );
-
-    BOOST_CHECK( !reporter.HasMessage() );  // Should still report no messages
-}
-
 BOOST_AUTO_TEST_CASE( NullReporter_SeverityMask )
 {
     REPORTER& reporter = NULL_REPORTER::GetInstance();
@@ -368,17 +357,6 @@ BOOST_AUTO_TEST_CASE( CliReporter_Singleton )
     BOOST_CHECK_EQUAL( &reporter1, &reporter2 );
 }
 
-BOOST_AUTO_TEST_CASE( CliReporter_NoMessages )
-{
-    REPORTER& reporter = CLI_REPORTER::GetInstance();
-
-    BOOST_CHECK( !reporter.HasMessage() );
-
-    reporter.Report( wxT("Test message"), RPT_SEVERITY_INFO );
-
-    BOOST_CHECK( !reporter.HasMessage() );  // Should not store messages
-}
-
 BOOST_AUTO_TEST_CASE( StdoutReporter_Singleton )
 {
     REPORTER& reporter1 = STDOUT_REPORTER::GetInstance();
@@ -387,17 +365,6 @@ BOOST_AUTO_TEST_CASE( StdoutReporter_Singleton )
     BOOST_CHECK_EQUAL( &reporter1, &reporter2 );
 }
 
-BOOST_AUTO_TEST_CASE( StdoutReporter_NoMessages )
-{
-    REPORTER& reporter = STDOUT_REPORTER::GetInstance();
-
-    BOOST_CHECK( !reporter.HasMessage() );
-
-    reporter.Report( wxT("Test message"), RPT_SEVERITY_INFO );
-
-    BOOST_CHECK( !reporter.HasMessage() );  // Should not store messages
-}
-
 BOOST_AUTO_TEST_CASE( WxLogReporter_Singleton )
 {
     REPORTER& reporter1 = WXLOG_REPORTER::GetInstance();
@@ -406,17 +373,6 @@ BOOST_AUTO_TEST_CASE( WxLogReporter_Singleton )
     BOOST_CHECK_EQUAL( &reporter1, &reporter2 );
 }
 
-BOOST_AUTO_TEST_CASE( WxLogReporter_NoMessages )
-{
-    REPORTER& reporter = WXLOG_REPORTER::GetInstance();
-
-    BOOST_CHECK( !reporter.HasMessage() );
-
-    reporter.Report( wxT("Test message"), RPT_SEVERITY_INFO );
-
-    BOOST_CHECK( !reporter.HasMessage() );  // Should not store messages
-}
-
 // Note: WX_TEXT_CTRL_REPORTER and STATUSBAR_REPORTER tests would require
 // actual wxWidgets objects or more sophisticated mocking
 
@@ -428,14 +384,9 @@ BOOST_AUTO_TEST_CASE( ReporterInterface_Polymorphism )
 
     for( auto& reporter : reporters )
     {
-        reporter->Report( wxT("Polymorphic test"), RPT_SEVERITY_INFO );
+        reporter->Report( wxT( "Polymorphic test" ), RPT_SEVERITY_INFO );
 
-        // WX_STRING_REPORTER and TEST_REPORTER should both store messages
-        if( dynamic_cast<WX_STRING_REPORTER*>( reporter.get() ) ||
-            dynamic_cast<TEST_REPORTER*>( reporter.get() ) )
-        {
-            BOOST_CHECK( reporter->HasMessage() );
-        }
+        BOOST_CHECK( reporter->HasMessage() );
     }
 }