diff --git a/src/backend/curses.rs b/src/backend/curses.rs
index 1a6a0c9..8cb2303 100644
--- a/src/backend/curses.rs
+++ b/src/backend/curses.rs
@@ -70,7 +70,7 @@ impl backend::Backend for NcursesBackend {
         ncurses::attroff(style);
     }
 
-    fn clear() {
+    fn clear(&self) {
         ncurses::clear();
     }
 
diff --git a/src/backend/mod.rs b/src/backend/mod.rs
index f6f243a..63a0f0f 100644
--- a/src/backend/mod.rs
+++ b/src/backend/mod.rs
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@ pub trait Backend {
     fn init() -> Self;
     fn finish(&mut self);
 
-    fn clear();
+    fn clear(&self);
     fn refresh(&self);
 
     fn has_colors(&self) -> bool;
diff --git a/src/lib.rs b/src/lib.rs
index a4110c0..5cd310e 100644
--- a/src/lib.rs
+++ b/src/lib.rs
@@ -273,7 +273,14 @@ impl Cursive {
     pub fn set_theme(&mut self, theme: theme::Theme) {
         self.theme = theme;
         self.theme.activate(&mut self.backend);
-        B::clear();
+        self.backend.clear();
+    }
+
+    /// Clears the screen.
+    ///
+    /// If a view becomes smaller, clearing the screen may be necessary.
+    pub fn clear(&self) {
+        self.backend.clear();
     }
 
     /// Loads a theme from the given file.
@@ -516,7 +523,7 @@ impl Cursive {
             // (If set_fps was called, this returns -1 now and then)
             let event = self.backend.poll_event();
             if event == Event::WindowResize {
-                B::clear();
+                self.backend.clear();
             }
 
             // Event dispatch order:
diff --git a/src/printer.rs b/src/printer.rs
index 2f846f6..ff71627 100644
--- a/src/printer.rs
+++ b/src/printer.rs
@@ -3,7 +3,9 @@
 
 use B;
 use backend::Backend;
+use std::cell::Cell;
 use std::cmp::min;
+use std::rc::Rc;
 
 use theme::{BorderStyle, ColorStyle, Effect, Theme};
 use unicode_segmentation::UnicodeSegmentation;
@@ -22,6 +24,9 @@ pub struct Printer<'a> {
     /// Currently used theme
     pub theme: Theme,
 
+    /// `true` if nothing has been drawn yet.
+    new: Rc<Cell<bool>>,
+    /// Backend used to actually draw things
     backend: &'a B,
 }
 
@@ -36,14 +41,29 @@ impl<'a> Printer<'a> {
             size: size.into(),
             focused: true,
             theme: theme,
+            new: Rc::new(Cell::new(true)),
             backend: backend,
         }
     }
 
+    /// Clear the screen.
+    ///
+    /// Careful with this method, it will discard anything drawn before.
+    pub fn clear(&self) {
+        self.backend.clear();
+    }
+
+    /// Returns `true` if nothing has been printed yet.
+    pub fn is_new(&self) -> bool {
+        self.new.get()
+    }
+
     // TODO: use &mut self? We don't *need* it, but it may make sense.
     // We don't want people to start calling prints in parallel?
     /// Prints some text at the given position relative to the window.
     pub fn print<S: Into<Vec2>>(&self, pos: S, text: &str) {
+        self.new.set(false);
+
         let p = pos.into();
         if p.y >= self.size.y || p.x >= self.size.x {
             return;
@@ -61,6 +81,8 @@ impl<'a> Printer<'a> {
 
     /// Prints a vertical line using the given character.
     pub fn print_vline<T: Into<Vec2>>(&self, start: T, len: usize, c: &str) {
+        self.new.set(false);
+
         let p = start.into();
         if p.y > self.size.y || p.x > self.size.x {
             return;
@@ -75,6 +97,8 @@ impl<'a> Printer<'a> {
 
     /// Prints a horizontal line using the given character.
     pub fn print_hline<T: Into<Vec2>>(&self, start: T, len: usize, c: &str) {
+        self.new.set(false);
+
         let p = start.into();
         if p.y > self.size.y || p.x > self.size.x {
             return;
@@ -135,6 +159,8 @@ impl<'a> Printer<'a> {
     /// ```
     pub fn print_box<T: Into<Vec2>, S: Into<Vec2>>(&self, start: T, size: S,
                                                    invert: bool) {
+        self.new.set(false);
+
         let start = start.into();
         let size = size.into();
         if size.x < 2 || size.y < 2 {
@@ -234,6 +260,7 @@ impl<'a> Printer<'a> {
             focused: self.focused && focused,
             theme: self.theme.clone(),
             backend: self.backend,
+            new: self.new.clone(),
         }
     }
 
diff --git a/src/views/menubar.rs b/src/views/menubar.rs
index 48198a1..6b56638 100644
--- a/src/views/menubar.rs
+++ b/src/views/menubar.rs
@@ -1,6 +1,5 @@
 use Cursive;
 use Printer;
-use backend::Backend;
 use direction;
 use event::*;
 use menu::MenuTree;
@@ -61,7 +60,6 @@ impl Menubar {
     /// Hides the menubar.
     fn hide(&mut self) {
         self.state = State::Inactive;
-        ::B::clear();
     }
 
     /// True if we should be receiving events.
@@ -144,7 +142,10 @@ impl View for Menubar {
 
     fn on_event(&mut self, event: Event) -> EventResult {
         match event {
-            Event::Key(Key::Esc) => self.hide(),
+            Event::Key(Key::Esc) => {
+                self.hide();
+                return EventResult::with_cb(|s| s.clear());
+            }
             Event::Key(Key::Left) => {
                 if self.focus > 0 {
                     self.focus -= 1
diff --git a/src/views/stack_view.rs b/src/views/stack_view.rs
index 0014eef..5582d80 100644
--- a/src/views/stack_view.rs
+++ b/src/views/stack_view.rs
@@ -1,5 +1,4 @@
 use Printer;
-use backend::Backend;
 
 use direction::Direction;
 use event::{Event, EventResult};
@@ -14,6 +13,7 @@ use views::ShadowView;
 pub struct StackView {
     layers: Vec<Layer>,
     last_size: Vec2,
+    needs_clear: bool,
 }
 
 struct Layer {
@@ -32,6 +32,7 @@ impl StackView {
         StackView {
             layers: Vec::new(),
             last_size: Vec2::zero(),
+            needs_clear: false,
         }
     }
 
@@ -57,7 +58,7 @@ impl StackView {
     /// Remove the top-most layer.
     pub fn pop_layer(&mut self) {
         self.layers.pop();
-        ::B::clear();
+        self.needs_clear = true;
     }
 
     /// Computes the offset of the current top view.
@@ -74,6 +75,9 @@ impl StackView {
 
 impl View for StackView {
     fn draw(&self, printer: &Printer) {
+        if self.needs_clear && printer.is_new() {
+            printer.clear();
+        }
         let last = self.layers.len();
         let mut previous = Vec2::zero();
         printer.with_color(ColorStyle::Primary, |printer| {
@@ -107,7 +111,7 @@ impl View for StackView {
             // Give each guy what he asks for, within the budget constraints.
             let size = Vec2::min(size, layer.view.get_min_size(size));
             if !layer.size.fits_in(size) {
-                ::B::clear();
+                self.needs_clear = true;
             }
             layer.size = size;
             layer.view.layout(layer.size);