diff --git a/lisp/wid-edit.el b/lisp/wid-edit.el
index 172da3db1e0..21848849ba5 100644
--- a/lisp/wid-edit.el
+++ b/lisp/wid-edit.el
@@ -2652,9 +2652,7 @@ widget-radio-add-item
 		(setq child (if chosen
 				(widget-create-child-value
 				 widget type value)
-			      (widget-create-child widget type)))
-		(unless chosen
-		  (widget-apply child :deactivate)))
+			      (widget-create-child widget type))))
 	       (t
 		(error "Unknown escape `%c'" escape)))))
      ;; Update properties.
@@ -2706,12 +2704,8 @@ widget-radio-value-set
 	     (match (and (not found)
 			 (widget-apply current :match value))))
 	(widget-value-set button match)
-	(if match
-	    (progn
-	      (widget-value-set current value)
-	      (widget-apply current :activate))
-	  (widget-apply current :deactivate))
-	(setq found (or found match))))))
+	(when match (widget-value-set current value))
+        (setq found (or found match))))))

 (defun widget-radio-validate (widget)
   ;; Valid if we have made a valid choice.
@@ -2733,11 +2727,9 @@ widget-radio-action
       (dolist (current (widget-get widget :children))
 	(let* ((button (widget-get current :button)))
 	  (cond ((eq child button)
-		 (widget-value-set button t)
-		 (widget-apply current :activate))
+		 (widget-value-set button t))
 		((widget-value button)
-		 (widget-value-set button nil)
-		 (widget-apply current :deactivate)))))))
+		 (widget-value-set button nil)))))))
   ;; Pass notification to parent.
   (widget-apply widget :notify child event))