diff --git a/lib/widget.js b/lib/widget.js
index 971562a7..a73d2fdc 100644
--- a/lib/widget.js
+++ b/lib/widget.js
@@ -4224,6 +4224,10 @@ List.prototype.removeItem = function(child) {
   }
 };
 
+List.prototype.clearItems = function() {
+  return this.setItems([]);
+};
+
 List.prototype.setItems = function(items) {
   var items = items.slice()
     , original = this.items.slice()