diff --git a/qutebrowser/mainwindow/mainwindow.py b/qutebrowser/mainwindow/mainwindow.py
index 732b7a688..9858abf7d 100644
--- a/qutebrowser/mainwindow/mainwindow.py
+++ b/qutebrowser/mainwindow/mainwindow.py
@@ -438,6 +438,8 @@ class MainWindow(QWidget):
         message.global_bridge.show_message.connect(
             self._messageview.show_message)
         message.global_bridge.flush()
+        message.global_bridge.clear_messages.connect(
+            self._messageview.clear_messages)
 
         message_bridge.s_set_text.connect(status.set_text)
         message_bridge.s_maybe_reset_text.connect(status.txt.maybe_reset_text)
diff --git a/qutebrowser/mainwindow/messageview.py b/qutebrowser/mainwindow/messageview.py
index 86178716f..6565a2a44 100644
--- a/qutebrowser/mainwindow/messageview.py
+++ b/qutebrowser/mainwindow/messageview.py
@@ -82,7 +82,7 @@ class MessageView(QWidget):
         self.setSizePolicy(QSizePolicy.Expanding, QSizePolicy.Fixed)
 
         self._clear_timer = QTimer()
-        self._clear_timer.timeout.connect(self._clear_messages)
+        self._clear_timer.timeout.connect(self.clear_messages)
         self._set_clear_timer_interval()
         objreg.get('config').changed.connect(self._set_clear_timer_interval)
 
@@ -101,7 +101,7 @@ class MessageView(QWidget):
         self._clear_timer.setInterval(config.get('ui', 'message-timeout'))
 
     @pyqtSlot()
-    def _clear_messages(self):
+    def clear_messages(self):
         """Hide and delete all messages."""
         for widget in self._messages:
             self._vbox.removeWidget(widget)
diff --git a/qutebrowser/misc/utilcmds.py b/qutebrowser/misc/utilcmds.py
index 893e11342..e617c1af2 100644
--- a/qutebrowser/misc/utilcmds.py
+++ b/qutebrowser/misc/utilcmds.py
@@ -137,6 +137,12 @@ def message_warning(text):
     message.warning(text)
 
 
+@cmdutils.register(hide=True)
+def clear_messages():
+    """Clear all message notifications."""
+    message.global_bridge.clear_messages.emit()
+
+
 @cmdutils.register(debug=True)
 @cmdutils.argument('typ', choices=['exception', 'segfault'])
 def debug_crash(typ='exception'):
diff --git a/qutebrowser/utils/message.py b/qutebrowser/utils/message.py
index b39e2ab49..bb758d78a 100644
--- a/qutebrowser/utils/message.py
+++ b/qutebrowser/utils/message.py
@@ -194,6 +194,7 @@ class GlobalMessageBridge(QObject):
     prompt_done = pyqtSignal(usertypes.KeyMode)
     ask_question = pyqtSignal(usertypes.Question, bool)
     mode_left = pyqtSignal(usertypes.KeyMode)
+    clear_messages = pyqtSignal()
 
     def __init__(self, parent=None):
         super().__init__(parent)