diff --git a/cli/src/cli_util.rs b/cli/src/cli_util.rs
index 4dd8cf451..857cc37e4 100644
--- a/cli/src/cli_util.rs
+++ b/cli/src/cli_util.rs
@@ -2488,7 +2488,7 @@ fn handle_early_args(
         args.config_toml.push(format!(r#"ui.color="{choice}""#));
     }
     if args.no_pager.unwrap_or_default() {
-        ui.set_pagination(crate::ui::PaginationChoice::Never);
+        args.config_toml.push(r#"ui.paginate="never""#.to_owned());
     }
     if !args.config_toml.is_empty() {
         layered_configs.parse_config_args(&args.config_toml)?;
diff --git a/cli/src/ui.rs b/cli/src/ui.rs
index f17274ecf..74922dbed 100644
--- a/cli/src/ui.rs
+++ b/cli/src/ui.rs
@@ -132,11 +132,6 @@ impl Ui {
         Ok(())
     }
 
-    /// Sets the pagination value.
-    pub fn set_pagination(&mut self, choice: PaginationChoice) {
-        self.paginate = choice;
-    }
-
     /// Switches the output to use the pager, if allowed.
     #[instrument(skip_all)]
     pub fn request_pager(&mut self) {