diff --git a/ipykernel/tests/test_zmq_shell.py b/ipykernel/tests/test_zmq_shell.py
index c0cc50516..52e11e43a 100644
--- a/ipykernel/tests/test_zmq_shell.py
+++ b/ipykernel/tests/test_zmq_shell.py
@@ -217,13 +217,9 @@ def test_magics(tmp_path):
     shell.user_ns["hi"] = 1
     magics = KernelMagics(shell)
 
-    def find_edit_target(*args):
-        return str(tmp_path), 0, 1
-
     tmp_file = tmp_path / "test.txt"
     tmp_file.write_text("hi", "utf8")
-    magics._find_edit_target = find_edit_target
-    magics.edit("hi")
+    magics.edit(str(tmp_file))
     magics.clear([])
     magics.less(str(tmp_file))
     if os.name == "posix":
diff --git a/ipykernel/zmqshell.py b/ipykernel/zmqshell.py
index acc1c95d3..4e7b9ecc5 100644
--- a/ipykernel/zmqshell.py
+++ b/ipykernel/zmqshell.py
@@ -203,8 +203,6 @@ class KernelMagics(Magics):
     # the magics which this class needs to implement differently from the base
     # class, or that are unique to it.
 
-    _find_edit_target = CodeMagics._find_edit_target
-
     @line_magic
     def edit(self, parameter_s="", last_call=None):
         """Bring up an editor and execute the resulting code.
@@ -286,7 +284,7 @@ def edit(self, parameter_s="", last_call=None):
         opts, args = self.parse_options(parameter_s, "prn:")
 
         try:
-            filename, lineno, _ = self._find_edit_target(self.shell, args, opts, last_call)
+            filename, lineno, _ = CodeMagics._find_edit_target(self.shell, args, opts, last_call)
         except MacroToEdit:
             # TODO: Implement macro editing over 2 processes.
             print("Macro editing not yet implemented in 2-process model.")