diff --git a/streamz/core.py b/streamz/core.py
index 4f541458..ee8b3fa0 100644
--- a/streamz/core.py
+++ b/streamz/core.py
@@ -28,6 +28,16 @@
 logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)
 
 
+class ClearMSG:
+    pass
+
+
+class IgnoreMSG:
+    pass
+
+
+# perhaps StopMSG?
+
 def identity(x):
     return x
 
@@ -277,7 +287,7 @@ def scatter(self, **kwargs):
         return scatter(self, **kwargs)
 
     def remove(self, predicate):
-        """ Only pass through elements for which the predicate returns False """
+        """ Only pass through elements for which the predicate returns False"""
         return self.filter(lambda x: not predicate(x))
 
     @property
@@ -399,11 +409,13 @@ def __init__(self, upstream, func, *args, **kwargs):
         _global_sinks.add(self)
 
     def update(self, x, who=None):
-        result = self.func(x, *self.args, **self.kwargs)
-        if gen.isawaitable(result):
-            return result
-        else:
-            return []
+        # only if not a clear msg, which is ignored
+        if not isinstance(x, ClearMSG) and not isinstance(x, IgnoreMSG):
+            result = self.func(x, *self.args, **self.kwargs)
+            if gen.isawaitable(result):
+                return result
+            else:
+                return []
 
 
 @Stream.register_api()
@@ -440,6 +452,9 @@ def __init__(self, upstream, func, *args, **kwargs):
         Stream.__init__(self, upstream, stream_name=stream_name)
 
     def update(self, x, who=None):
+        if isinstance(x, IgnoreMSG) or isinstance(x, ClearMSG):
+            return self.emit(x)
+
         result = self.func(x, *self.args, **self.kwargs)
 
         return self._emit(result)
@@ -516,6 +531,7 @@ class accumulate(Stream):
 
     def __init__(self, upstream, func, start=no_default, returns_state=False,
                  **kwargs):
+        self.start = start
         self.func = func
         self.kwargs = kwargs
         self.state = start
@@ -525,6 +541,15 @@ def __init__(self, upstream, func, start=no_default, returns_state=False,
         Stream.__init__(self, upstream, stream_name=stream_name)
 
     def update(self, x, who=None):
+        # if this is a request to clear, reset state
+        if isinstance(x, ClearMSG):
+            self.state = self.start
+            # and pass it through
+            return self.emit(x)
+
+        if isinstance(x, IgnoreMSG):
+            return self.emit(x)
+
         if self.state is no_default:
             self.state = x
             return self._emit(x)
diff --git a/streamz/tests/test_core.py b/streamz/tests/test_core.py
index ec3d15e5..d3261d17 100644
--- a/streamz/tests/test_core.py
+++ b/streamz/tests/test_core.py
@@ -931,3 +931,28 @@ def slow_write(x):
 
 if sys.version_info >= (3, 5):
     from streamz.tests.py3_test_core import *  # noqa
+
+
+def test_clear():
+    s = Stream()
+    # increment
+    def acc1(x1, x2):
+        return x1 + x2
+    from streamz.core import ClearMSG, IgnoreMSG
+
+    clear_msg = ClearMSG()
+    ignore_msg = IgnoreMSG()
+
+    sout = s.accumulate(acc1)
+    Lout = sout.sink_to_list()
+    sout2 = sout.map(lambda x : x + 1)
+    Lout2 = sout2.sink_to_list()
+
+    s.emit(1)
+    s.emit(2)
+    s.emit(ignore_msg)
+    s.emit(3)
+    s.emit(clear_msg)
+    s.emit(3)
+    assert Lout == [1, 3, 6, 3]
+    assert Lout2 == [2, 4, 7, 4]