diff --git a/libraries/AP_HAL/utility/RingBuffer.h b/libraries/AP_HAL/utility/RingBuffer.h
index 937c44b2c0..d24acba656 100644
--- a/libraries/AP_HAL/utility/RingBuffer.h
+++ b/libraries/AP_HAL/utility/RingBuffer.h
@@ -104,6 +104,12 @@ public:
         delete buffer;
     }
 
+    // Discards the buffer content, emptying it.
+    void clear(void)
+    {
+        buffer->clear();
+    }
+
     // return number of objects available to be read
     uint32_t available(void) const {
         return buffer->available() / sizeof(T);
@@ -229,6 +235,12 @@ public:
         return true;
     }
 
+    // Discards the buffer content, emptying it.
+    void clear(void)
+    {
+        head = count = 0;
+    }
+
     /*
       pop earliest object off the queue
      */