diff --git a/libs/canvas/canvas.cc b/libs/canvas/canvas.cc
index 6b0c4f94c0..79a4f203c6 100644
--- a/libs/canvas/canvas.cc
+++ b/libs/canvas/canvas.cc
@@ -331,6 +331,14 @@ Canvas::queue_draw_item_area (Item* item, Rect area)
 	request_redraw (item->item_to_window (area));
 }
 
+void
+GtkCanvas::re_enter ()
+{
+	DEBUG_TRACE (PBD::DEBUG::CanvasEnterLeave, "re-enter canvas by request\n");
+	_current_item = 0;
+	pick_current_item (0);
+}
+
 /** Construct a GtkCanvas */
 GtkCanvas::GtkCanvas ()
 	: _current_item (0)
diff --git a/libs/canvas/canvas/canvas.h b/libs/canvas/canvas/canvas.h
index b14f20b69c..c3ab322b67 100644
--- a/libs/canvas/canvas/canvas.h
+++ b/libs/canvas/canvas/canvas.h
@@ -135,6 +135,11 @@ public:
         std::string indent() const;
         std::string render_indent() const;
         void dump (std::ostream&) const;
+
+	/** Ask the canvas to pick the current item again, and generate
+	    an enter event for it.
+	*/
+	virtual void re_enter () = 0;
     
 protected:
 	void queue_draw_item_area (Item *, Rect);
@@ -169,6 +174,8 @@ public:
 
 	bool get_mouse_position (Duple& winpos) const;
 
+	void re_enter ();
+
 protected:
 	bool on_scroll_event (GdkEventScroll *);
 	bool on_expose_event (GdkEventExpose *);