diff --git a/libs/canvas/canvas/poly_item.h b/libs/canvas/canvas/poly_item.h
index 7ad13485ff..79dcd876da 100644
--- a/libs/canvas/canvas/poly_item.h
+++ b/libs/canvas/canvas/poly_item.h
@@ -37,6 +37,7 @@ public:
 
 	virtual void  set (Points const&);
 	virtual void  add_point (Duple const &);
+	virtual void  clear ();
 	void pop_back();
 	Points const& get () const;
 
diff --git a/libs/canvas/poly_item.cc b/libs/canvas/poly_item.cc
index 3fa227250f..1ab75867f5 100644
--- a/libs/canvas/poly_item.cc
+++ b/libs/canvas/poly_item.cc
@@ -158,6 +158,17 @@ PolyItem::pop_back ()
 	end_change ();
 }
 
+void
+PolyItem::clear ()
+{
+	if (!_points.empty()) {
+		begin_change ();
+		_points.clear ();
+		set_bbox_dirty ();
+		end_change ();
+	}
+}
+
 Points const&
 PolyItem::get () const
 {