diff --git a/apps/openmw/mwworld/cellstore.cpp b/apps/openmw/mwworld/cellstore.cpp
index ff3845e9a2..00be811137 100644
--- a/apps/openmw/mwworld/cellstore.cpp
+++ b/apps/openmw/mwworld/cellstore.cpp
@@ -655,13 +655,6 @@ namespace MWWorld
         }
     };
 
-    Ptr CellStore::searchViaRefNum(const ESM::RefNum& refNum)
-    {
-        RefNumSearchVisitor searchVisitor(refNum);
-        forEach(searchVisitor);
-        return searchVisitor.mFound;
-    }
-
     float CellStore::getWaterLevel() const
     {
         if (isExterior())
@@ -1046,7 +1039,7 @@ namespace MWWorld
             }
 
             // Search for the reference. It might no longer exist if its content file was removed.
-            Ptr movedRef = searchViaRefNum(refnum);
+            Ptr movedRef = MWBase::Environment::get().getWorldModel()->getPtr(refnum);
             if (movedRef.isEmpty())
             {
                 Log(Debug::Warning) << "Warning: Dropping moved ref tag for " << refnum.mIndex
diff --git a/apps/openmw/mwworld/cellstore.hpp b/apps/openmw/mwworld/cellstore.hpp
index 0cc06f4d2f..47c15edfee 100644
--- a/apps/openmw/mwworld/cellstore.hpp
+++ b/apps/openmw/mwworld/cellstore.hpp
@@ -166,11 +166,6 @@ namespace MWWorld
         Ptr searchViaActorId(int id);
         ///< Will return an empty Ptr if cell is not loaded.
 
-        Ptr searchViaRefNum(const ESM::RefNum& refNum);
-        ///< Will return an empty Ptr if cell is not loaded. Does not check references in
-        /// containers.
-        /// @note Triggers CellStore hasState flag.
-
         float getWaterLevel() const;
 
         bool movedHere(const MWWorld::Ptr& ptr) const;
diff --git a/apps/openmw/mwworld/worldimp.cpp b/apps/openmw/mwworld/worldimp.cpp
index 21ed7a6ee4..8c13a9a4c0 100644
--- a/apps/openmw/mwworld/worldimp.cpp
+++ b/apps/openmw/mwworld/worldimp.cpp
@@ -1880,14 +1880,7 @@ namespace MWWorld
 
         facedObject = rayToObject.mHitObject;
         if (facedObject.isEmpty() && rayToObject.mHitRefnum.isSet())
-        {
-            for (CellStore* cellstore : mWorldScene->getActiveCells())
-            {
-                facedObject = cellstore->searchViaRefNum(rayToObject.mHitRefnum);
-                if (!facedObject.isEmpty())
-                    break;
-            }
-        }
+            facedObject = MWBase::Environment::get().getWorldModel()->getPtr(rayToObject.mHitRefnum);
         if (rayToObject.mHit)
             mDistanceToFacedObject = (rayToObject.mRatio * maxDistance) - camDist;
         else
@@ -1904,14 +1897,7 @@ namespace MWWorld
         res.mHitNormal = rayRes.mHitNormalWorld;
         res.mHitObject = rayRes.mHitObject;
         if (res.mHitObject.isEmpty() && rayRes.mHitRefnum.isSet())
-        {
-            for (CellStore* cellstore : mWorldScene->getActiveCells())
-            {
-                res.mHitObject = cellstore->searchViaRefNum(rayRes.mHitRefnum);
-                if (!res.mHitObject.isEmpty())
-                    break;
-            }
-        }
+            res.mHitObject = MWBase::Environment::get().getWorldModel()->getPtr(rayRes.mHitRefnum);
         return res.mHit;
     }