diff --git a/gtk/gtkclist.c b/gtk/gtkclist.c
index 74302d1edb..f09d6b1371 100644
--- a/gtk/gtkclist.c
+++ b/gtk/gtkclist.c
@@ -5925,8 +5925,14 @@ draw_rows (GtkCList     *clist,
     }
 
   if (!area)
-    gdk_window_clear_area (clist->clist_window, 0,
-			   ROW_TOP_YPIXEL (clist, i), 0, 0);
+    {
+      int w, h, y;
+      gdk_drawable_get_size (GDK_DRAWABLE (clist->clist_window), &w, &h);
+      y = ROW_TOP_YPIXEL (clist, i);
+      gdk_window_clear_area (clist->clist_window,
+			     0, y,
+			     w, h - y);
+    }
 }
 
 static void