diff --git a/src/plugins/coreplugin/filemanager.cpp b/src/plugins/coreplugin/filemanager.cpp
index f93a03f36f9..caabbeced3c 100644
--- a/src/plugins/coreplugin/filemanager.cpp
+++ b/src/plugins/coreplugin/filemanager.cpp
@@ -1077,6 +1077,17 @@ void FileManager::addToRecentFiles(const QString &fileName, const QString &edito
     d->m_recentFiles.prepend(RecentFile(fileName, editorId));
 }
 
+/*!
+    \fn void FileManager::clearRecentFiles()
+
+    Clears the list of recent files. Should only be called by
+    the core plugin when the user chooses to clear it.
+*/
+void FileManager::clearRecentFiles()
+{
+    d->m_recentFiles.clear();
+}
+
 /*!
     \fn QStringList FileManager::recentFiles() const
 
diff --git a/src/plugins/coreplugin/filemanager.h b/src/plugins/coreplugin/filemanager.h
index 47fb008d7ba..a5ecd4dffc5 100644
--- a/src/plugins/coreplugin/filemanager.h
+++ b/src/plugins/coreplugin/filemanager.h
@@ -84,7 +84,9 @@ public:
 
     // recent files
     void addToRecentFiles(const QString &fileName, const QString &editorId = QString());
+    Q_SLOT void clearRecentFiles();
     QList<RecentFile> recentFiles() const;
+
     void saveSettings();
 
     // current file
diff --git a/src/plugins/coreplugin/mainwindow.cpp b/src/plugins/coreplugin/mainwindow.cpp
index 31918dd3fe1..49a9757002a 100644
--- a/src/plugins/coreplugin/mainwindow.cpp
+++ b/src/plugins/coreplugin/mainwindow.cpp
@@ -1317,6 +1317,13 @@ void MainWindow::aboutToShowRecentFiles()
         connect(action, SIGNAL(triggered()), this, SLOT(openRecentFile()));
     }
     aci->menu()->setEnabled(hasRecentFiles);
+
+    // add the Clear Menu item
+    if (hasRecentFiles) {
+        aci->menu()->addSeparator();
+        QAction *action = aci->menu()->addAction(tr(QT_TRANSLATE_NOOP("Core::MainWindow", "Clear Menu")));
+        connect(action, SIGNAL(triggered()), m_fileManager, SLOT(clearRecentFiles()));
+    }
 }
 
 void MainWindow::openRecentFile()
diff --git a/src/plugins/projectexplorer/projectexplorer.cpp b/src/plugins/projectexplorer/projectexplorer.cpp
index bfea5520a88..3acf25186a7 100644
--- a/src/plugins/projectexplorer/projectexplorer.cpp
+++ b/src/plugins/projectexplorer/projectexplorer.cpp
@@ -2221,8 +2221,7 @@ void ProjectExplorerPlugin::updateRecentProjectMenu()
     QMenu *menu = aci->menu();
     menu->clear();
 
-    menu->setEnabled(!d->m_recentProjects.isEmpty());
-
+    bool hasRecentProjects = false;
     //projects (ignore sessions, they used to be in this list)
     const StringPairListConstIterator end = d->m_recentProjects.constEnd();
     for (StringPairListConstIterator it = d->m_recentProjects.constBegin(); it != end; ++it) {
@@ -2232,7 +2231,22 @@ void ProjectExplorerPlugin::updateRecentProjectMenu()
         QAction *action = menu->addAction(Utils::withTildeHomePath(s.first));
         action->setData(s.first);
         connect(action, SIGNAL(triggered()), this, SLOT(openRecentProject()));
+        hasRecentProjects = true;
     }
+    menu->setEnabled(hasRecentProjects);
+
+    // add the Clear Menu item
+    if (hasRecentProjects) {
+        menu->addSeparator();
+        QAction *action = menu->addAction(tr(QT_TRANSLATE_NOOP("Core::MainWindow", "Clear Menu")));
+        connect(action, SIGNAL(triggered()), this, SLOT(clearRecentProjects()));
+    }
+}
+
+void ProjectExplorerPlugin::clearRecentProjects()
+{
+    d->m_recentProjects.clear();
+    updateWelcomePage();
 }
 
 void ProjectExplorerPlugin::openRecentProject()
diff --git a/src/plugins/projectexplorer/projectexplorer.h b/src/plugins/projectexplorer/projectexplorer.h
index 554280edde4..5885db4413d 100644
--- a/src/plugins/projectexplorer/projectexplorer.h
+++ b/src/plugins/projectexplorer/projectexplorer.h
@@ -196,6 +196,7 @@ private slots:
     void setStartupProject(ProjectExplorer::Project *project);
 
     void updateRecentProjectMenu();
+    void clearRecentProjects();
     void openRecentProject();
     void openTerminalHere();