diff --git a/guile-readline/readline.c b/guile-readline/readline.c
index 068c453e6..565c264ad 100644
--- a/guile-readline/readline.c
+++ b/guile-readline/readline.c
@@ -360,6 +360,16 @@ SCM_DEFINE (scm_write_history, "write-history", 1, 0, 0,
 }
 #undef FUNC_NAME
 
+SCM_DEFINE (scm_clear_history, "clear-history", 0, 0, 0, 
+            (),
+	    "Clear the history buffer of the readline machinery.")
+#define FUNC_NAME s_scm_clear_history
+{
+  clear_history();
+  return SCM_UNSPECIFIED;
+}
+#undef FUNC_NAME
+
 
 SCM_DEFINE (scm_filename_completion_function, "filename-completion-function", 2, 0, 0, 
             (SCM text, SCM continuep),
diff --git a/guile-readline/readline.scm b/guile-readline/readline.scm
index c76e51a39..f2960fac6 100644
--- a/guile-readline/readline.scm
+++ b/guile-readline/readline.scm
@@ -110,7 +110,9 @@
 	  (begin
 	    (do read-history) 
 	    (set! the-readline-port (make-readline-port))
-	    (add-hook! exit-hook (lambda () (do write-history)))))
+	    (add-hook! exit-hook (lambda () 
+				   (do write-history)
+				   (clear-history)))))
       the-readline-port)))
 
 ;;; The user might try to use readline in his programs.  It then