diff --git a/src/commands.c b/src/commands.c
index 80f57b81..9b51b3ec 100644
--- a/src/commands.c
+++ b/src/commands.c
@@ -494,27 +494,7 @@ void cmd_move_con_to_workspace_name(I3_CMD, char *name) {
 
     LOG("should move window to workspace %s\n", name);
     /* get the workspace */
-    Con *ws = NULL;
-    Con *output = NULL;
-
-    /* first look for a workspace with this name */
-    TAILQ_FOREACH(output, &(croot->nodes_head), nodes) {
-        GREP_FIRST(ws, output_get_content(output), !strcasecmp(child->name, name));
-    }
-
-    /* if the name is plain digits, we interpret this as a "workspace number"
-     * command */
-    if (!ws && name_is_digits(name)) {
-        long parsed_num = ws_name_to_number(name);
-        TAILQ_FOREACH(output, &(croot->nodes_head), nodes) {
-            GREP_FIRST(ws, output_get_content(output),
-                       child->num == parsed_num);
-        }
-    }
-
-    /* if no workspace was found, make a new one */
-    if (!ws)
-        ws = workspace_get(name, NULL);
+    Con *ws = workspace_get(name, NULL);
 
     ws = maybe_auto_back_and_forth_workspace(ws);
 
@@ -1049,30 +1029,7 @@ void cmd_workspace_name(I3_CMD, char *name) {
     DLOG("should switch to workspace %s\n", name);
     if (maybe_back_and_forth(cmd_output, name))
         return;
-
-    Con *ws = NULL;
-    Con *output = NULL;
-
-    /* first look for a workspace with this name */
-    TAILQ_FOREACH(output, &(croot->nodes_head), nodes) {
-        GREP_FIRST(ws, output_get_content(output), !strcasecmp(child->name, name));
-    }
-
-    /* if the name is only digits, we interpret this as a "workspace number"
-     * command */
-    if (!ws && name_is_digits(name)) {
-        long parsed_num = ws_name_to_number(name);
-        TAILQ_FOREACH(output, &(croot->nodes_head), nodes) {
-            GREP_FIRST(ws, output_get_content(output),
-                       child->num == parsed_num);
-        }
-    }
-
-    /* if no workspace was found, make a new one */
-    if (!ws)
-        ws = workspace_get(name, NULL);
-
-    workspace_show(ws);
+    workspace_show_by_name(name);
 
     cmd_output->needs_tree_render = true;
     // XXX: default reply for now, make this a better reply
diff --git a/testcases/t/232-cmd-workspace-number-selection.t b/testcases/t/232-cmd-workspace-number-selection.t
deleted file mode 100644
index bda05643..00000000
--- a/testcases/t/232-cmd-workspace-number-selection.t
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,52 +0,0 @@
-#!perl
-# vim:ts=4:sw=4:expandtab
-#
-# Please read the following documents before working on tests:
-# • http://build.i3wm.org/docs/testsuite.html
-#   (or docs/testsuite)
-#
-# • http://build.i3wm.org/docs/lib-i3test.html
-#   (alternatively: perldoc ./testcases/lib/i3test.pm)
-#
-# • http://build.i3wm.org/docs/ipc.html
-#   (or docs/ipc)
-#
-# • http://onyxneon.com/books/modern_perl/modern_perl_a4.pdf
-#   (unless you are already familiar with Perl)
-#
-# Test that `workspace {N}` acts like `workspace number {N}` when N is a plain
-# digit, and likewise for `move to workspace {N}`.
-# Ticket: #1238
-# Bug still in: 4.8-16-g3f5a0f0
-use i3test;
-
-cmd 'workspace 5:foo';
-open_window;
-fresh_workspace;
-cmd 'workspace 5';
-
-is(focused_ws, '5:foo',
-    'a command to switch to a workspace with a bare number should switch to a workspace of that number');
-
-fresh_workspace;
-my $win = open_window;
-cmd '[id="' . $win->{id} . '"] move to workspace 5';
-
-is(@{get_ws('5:foo')->{nodes}}, 2,
-    'a command to move a container to a workspace with a bare number should move that container to a workspace of that number');
-
-fresh_workspace;
-cmd 'workspace 7';
-open_window;
-cmd 'workspace 7:foo';
-$win = open_window;
-
-cmd 'workspace 7';
-is(focused_ws, '7',
-    'a workspace with a name that is a matching plain number should be preferred when switching');
-
-cmd '[id="' . $win->{id} . '"] move to workspace 7';
-is(@{get_ws('7')->{nodes}}, 2,
-    'a workspace with a name that is a matching plain number should be preferred when moving');
-
-done_testing;