diff --git a/cache.go b/cache.go
index 9082808..ec83a76 100644
--- a/cache.go
+++ b/cache.go
@@ -17,6 +17,10 @@ type setMaxSize struct {
 	size int64
 }
 
+type clear struct {
+	done chan struct{}
+}
+
 type Cache struct {
 	*Configuration
 	list        *list.List
@@ -146,13 +150,11 @@ func (c *Cache) Delete(key string) bool {
 	return false
 }
 
-//this isn't thread safe. It's meant to be called from non-concurrent tests
+// Clears the cache
 func (c *Cache) Clear() {
-	for _, bucket := range c.buckets {
-		bucket.clear()
-	}
-	c.size = 0
-	c.list = list.New()
+	done := make(chan struct{})
+	c.control <- clear{done: done}
+	<-done
 }
 
 // Stops the background worker. Operations performed on the cache after Stop
@@ -231,6 +233,13 @@ func (c *Cache) worker() {
 				if c.size > c.maxSize {
 					dropped += c.gc()
 				}
+			case clear:
+				for _, bucket := range c.buckets {
+					bucket.clear()
+				}
+				c.size = 0
+				c.list = list.New()
+				msg.done <- struct{}{}
 			}
 		}
 	}
diff --git a/layeredcache.go b/layeredcache.go
index 2a846df..40f7123 100644
--- a/layeredcache.go
+++ b/layeredcache.go
@@ -164,13 +164,11 @@ func (c *LayeredCache) DeleteFunc(primary string, matches func(key string, item
 	return c.bucket(primary).deleteFunc(primary, matches, c.deletables)
 }
 
-//this isn't thread safe. It's meant to be called from non-concurrent tests
+// Clears the cache
 func (c *LayeredCache) Clear() {
-	for _, bucket := range c.buckets {
-		bucket.clear()
-	}
-	c.size = 0
-	c.list = list.New()
+	done := make(chan struct{})
+	c.control <- clear{done: done}
+	<-done
 }
 
 func (c *LayeredCache) Stop() {
@@ -249,6 +247,13 @@ func (c *LayeredCache) worker() {
 				if c.size > c.maxSize {
 					dropped += c.gc()
 				}
+			case clear:
+				for _, bucket := range c.buckets {
+					bucket.clear()
+				}
+				c.size = 0
+				c.list = list.New()
+				msg.done <- struct{}{}
 			}
 		}
 	}
diff --git a/readme.md b/readme.md
index 8efbe45..47a8bc2 100644
--- a/readme.md
+++ b/readme.md
@@ -100,7 +100,7 @@ cache.Delete("user:4")
 `DeleteFunc` deletes all items that the provded matches func evaluates to true. Returns the number of keys removed.
 
 ### Clear
-`Clear` clears the cache. This method is **not** thread safe. It is meant to be used from tests.
+`Clear` clears the cache. If the cache's gc is running, `Clear` waits for it to finish.
 
 ### Extend
 The life of an item can be changed via the `Extend` method. This will change the expiry of the item by the specified duration relative to the current time.