diff --git a/cores/esp8266/IPAddress.cpp b/cores/esp8266/IPAddress.cpp
index 5b502d8730..c269d00506 100644
--- a/cores/esp8266/IPAddress.cpp
+++ b/cores/esp8266/IPAddress.cpp
@@ -183,6 +183,10 @@ bool IPAddress::isValid(const char* arg) {
 const IPAddress INADDR_ANY; // generic "0.0.0.0" for IPv4 & IPv6
 const IPAddress INADDR_NONE(255,255,255,255);
 
+void IPAddress::clear() {
+    (*this) = INADDR_ANY;
+}
+
 /**************************************/
 
 #if LWIP_IPV6
diff --git a/cores/esp8266/IPAddress.h b/cores/esp8266/IPAddress.h
index d2170017e8..33305f4246 100644
--- a/cores/esp8266/IPAddress.h
+++ b/cores/esp8266/IPAddress.h
@@ -125,6 +125,8 @@ class IPAddress: public Printable {
         virtual size_t printTo(Print& p) const;
         String toString() const;
 
+        void clear();
+
         /*
                 check if input string(arg) is a valid IPV4 address or not.
                 return true on valid.