diff --git a/libs/canvas/canvas/poly_item.h b/libs/canvas/canvas/poly_item.h
index af5d0f853c..7ad13485ff 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 &);
+	void pop_back();
 	Points const& get () const;
 
 	void dump (std::ostream&) const;
diff --git a/libs/canvas/poly_item.cc b/libs/canvas/poly_item.cc
index 99599d201f..3fa227250f 100644
--- a/libs/canvas/poly_item.cc
+++ b/libs/canvas/poly_item.cc
@@ -149,6 +149,15 @@ PolyItem::add_point (Duple const & d)
 	end_change ();
 }
 
+void
+PolyItem::pop_back ()
+{
+	begin_change ();
+	_points.pop_back ();
+	set_bbox_dirty ();
+	end_change ();
+}
+
 Points const&
 PolyItem::get () const
 {