diff --git a/lib/matplotlib/text.py b/lib/matplotlib/text.py
index d09aa39742bf..b8ce4dfb2800 100644
--- a/lib/matplotlib/text.py
+++ b/lib/matplotlib/text.py
@@ -1204,16 +1204,8 @@ def set_usetex(self, usetex):
         self.stale = True
 
     def get_usetex(self):
-        """
-        Return whether this `Text` object uses TeX for rendering.
-
-        If the user has not manually set this value, it defaults to
-        :rc:`text.usetex`.
-        """
-        if self._usetex is None:
-            return rcParams['text.usetex']
-        else:
-            return self._usetex
+        """Return whether this `Text` object uses TeX for rendering."""
+        return self._usetex
 
     def set_fontname(self, fontname):
         """