diff --git a/docs/changelog.rst b/docs/changelog.rst
index 4bdb94a6f..a07b42405 100644
--- a/docs/changelog.rst
+++ b/docs/changelog.rst
@@ -28,6 +28,10 @@ Changelog
 
 - Allow running kitten via the remote control system (:iss:`738`)
 
+- Add a keyboard shortcut to reset the terminal (:sc:`reset_terminal`). It
+  takes parameters so you can define your own shortcuts to clear the
+  screen/scrollback also (:iss:`747`)
+
 0.11.3 [2018-07-10]
 ------------------------------
 
diff --git a/docs/index.rst b/docs/index.rst
index fb0dc5a26..d4b529805 100644
--- a/docs/index.rst
+++ b/docs/index.rst
@@ -165,6 +165,7 @@ Restore font size                   :sc:`reset_font_size`
 Toggle fullscreen                   :sc:`toggle_fullscreen`
 Input unicode character             :sc:`input_unicode_character`
 Click URL using the keyboard        :sc:`open_url`
+Reset the terminal                  :sc:`reset_terminal`
 Pass current selection to program   :sc:`pass_selection_to_program`
 Edit |kitty| config file            :sc:`edit_config_file`
 Open a |kitty| shell                :sc:`kitty_shell`
diff --git a/kitty/boss.py b/kitty/boss.py
index 0eb9db7a2..4c2c98711 100644
--- a/kitty/boss.py
+++ b/kitty/boss.py
@@ -322,6 +322,23 @@ class Boss:
             if tm is not None:
                 tm.resize()
 
+    def clear_terminal(self, action, only_active):
+        if only_active:
+            windows = []
+            w = self.active_window
+            if w is not None:
+                windows.append(w)
+        else:
+            windows = self.all_windows
+        reset = action == 'reset'
+        how = 3 if action == 'scrollback' else 2
+        for w in windows:
+            w.screen.cursor.x = w.screen.cursor.y = 0
+            if reset:
+                w.screen.reset()
+            else:
+                w.screen.erase_in_display(how, False)
+
     def increase_font_size(self):  # legacy
         cfs = global_font_size()
         self.set_font_size(min(self.opts.font_size * 5, cfs + 2.0))
diff --git a/kitty/config.py b/kitty/config.py
index f34edd4c8..360bbef8a 100644
--- a/kitty/config.py
+++ b/kitty/config.py
@@ -121,6 +121,17 @@ def parse_change_font_size(func, rest):
     return func, args
 
 
+@func_with_args('clear_terminal')
+def clear_terminal(func, rest):
+    vals = rest.split(' ', 1)
+    if len(vals) != 2:
+        log_error('clear_terminal needs two arguments, using defaults')
+        args = ['reset', 'active']
+    else:
+        args = [vals[0].lower(), vals[1].lower() == 'active']
+    return func, args
+
+
 def parse_key_action(action):
     parts = action.split(' ', 1)
     func = parts[0]
diff --git a/kitty/config_data.py b/kitty/config_data.py
index ed4857df9..1b2f7e577 100644
--- a/kitty/config_data.py
+++ b/kitty/config_data.py
@@ -893,6 +893,17 @@ k('increase_background_opacity', 'kitty_mod+a>m', 'set_background_opacity +0.1',
 k('decrease_background_opacity', 'kitty_mod+a>l', 'set_background_opacity -0.1', _('Decrease background opacity'))
 k('full_background_opacity', 'kitty_mod+a>1', 'set_background_opacity 1', _('Make background fully opaque'))
 k('reset_background_opacity', 'kitty_mod+a>d', 'set_background_opacity default', _('Reset background opacity'))
+k('reset_terminal', 'kitty_mod+delete', 'clear_terminal reset active', _('Reset the terminal'),
+    long_text=_('''
+You can create shortcuts to clear/reset the terminal. For example::
+
+    map kitty_mod+f9 clear_terminal reset active
+    map kitty_mod+f10 clear_terminal clear active
+    map kitty_mod+f11 clear_terminal scrollback active
+
+These will reset screen/clear screen/clear screen+scrollback respectively. If you want to
+operate on all windows instead of just the current one, use :italic:`all` instead of :italic`active`.
+'''))
 k('send_text', 'ctrl+shift+alt+h', 'send_text all Hello World', _('Send arbitrary text on key presses'),
   add_to_default=False, long_text=_('''
 You can tell kitty to send arbitrary (UTF-8) encoded text to