diff --git a/pd/src/g_canvas.h b/pd/src/g_canvas.h
index 964d8fab820992ae09b20e49af661c5d8f472645..5c340e103a43c0a4898121fcfb791efd26211e43 100644
--- a/pd/src/g_canvas.h
+++ b/pd/src/g_canvas.h
@@ -237,6 +237,8 @@ struct _glist
 #define gl_gobj gl_obj.te_g
 #define gl_pd gl_gobj.g_pd
 
+typedef void (*t_canvas_iterator)(t_canvas *x, void *data);
+
 /*-------------------universal preset stuff---------------------*/
 // for the universal preset_node ability (see g_editor.c doconnect/disconnect functions)
 // this is where all the classes capable of being controlled via preset should be defined
diff --git a/pd/src/g_clone.c b/pd/src/g_clone.c
index 2529161e6de5da95ad0291e413b39d86a16018be..c06f8dba7fb293b955382fa085feb4137933ec64 100644
--- a/pd/src/g_clone.c
+++ b/pd/src/g_clone.c
@@ -65,6 +65,16 @@ typedef struct _clone
     int x_suppressvoice; /* suppress voice number as $1 arg */
 } t_clone;
 
+/* the given 'it' function is executed over each of the underlying canvases
+    (they are passed as first parameter). 'data' is passed as second argument */
+void clone_iterate(t_pd *z, t_canvas_iterator it, void* data)
+{
+    t_clone *x = (t_clone *)z;
+    int i;
+    for(i = 0; i < x->x_n; i++)
+        it(x->x_vec[i].c_gl, data);
+}
+
 int clone_match(t_pd *z, t_symbol *name, t_symbol *dir)
 {
     t_clone *x = (t_clone *)z;