diff --git a/rtl/apple1.v b/rtl/apple1.v
index 52184e5..00111e1 100644
--- a/rtl/apple1.v
+++ b/rtl/apple1.v
@@ -45,9 +45,10 @@ module apple1 #(
     // Outputs to VGA display
     output vga_h_sync,          // hozizontal VGA sync pulse
     output vga_v_sync,          // vertical VGA sync pulse
-    output vga_red,         // red VGA signal
-    output vga_grn,         // green VGA signal
-    output vga_blu,         // blue VGA signal
+    output vga_red,             // red VGA signal
+    output vga_grn,             // green VGA signal
+    output vga_blu,             // blue VGA signal
+    input clr_screen,           // clear screen button
 
     // Debugging ports
     output [15:0] pc_monitor    // spy for program counter / debugging
@@ -175,8 +176,6 @@ module apple1 #(
         .uart_tx(uart_tx),
         .uart_cts(uart_cts),
 
-        //.address({1'b1, ab[0]}),  // for ps/2
-        //.address({1'b0, ab[0]}),  // for vga
         .address(ab[1:0]),        // for uart
         .w_en(we & uart_cs),
         .din(dbo),
@@ -214,7 +213,8 @@ module apple1 #(
         .address(ab[0]),
         .w_en(we & vga_cs),
         .din(dbo),
-        .mode(vga_mode)
+        .mode(vga_mode),
+        .clr_screen(clr_screen)
     );
 
     // FIXME: REMOVE THIS
diff --git a/rtl/boards/ice40hx8k-b-evn/apple1_hx8k.v b/rtl/boards/ice40hx8k-b-evn/apple1_hx8k.v
index c0ac6c7..3899e93 100644
--- a/rtl/boards/ice40hx8k-b-evn/apple1_hx8k.v
+++ b/rtl/boards/ice40hx8k-b-evn/apple1_hx8k.v
@@ -104,6 +104,7 @@ module apple1_top #(
         .vga_red(vga_red),
         .vga_grn(vga_grn),
         .vga_blu(vga_blu),
+        .clr_screen(~button[1]),
         .pc_monitor(pc_monitor)
     );
     
diff --git a/rtl/vga/vga.v b/rtl/vga/vga.v
index b796dad..dd1a087 100644
--- a/rtl/vga/vga.v
+++ b/rtl/vga/vga.v
@@ -13,7 +13,8 @@ module vga #(
     input address,          // address bus
     input w_en,             // active high write enable strobe
     input [7:0] din,        // 8-bit data bus (input)
-    input [1:0] mode        // 2-bit mode setting for pixel doubling
+    input [1:0] mode,       // 2-bit mode setting for pixel doubling
+    input clr_screen        // clear screen button
 );
 
     //////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
@@ -60,9 +61,6 @@ module vga #(
     wire [4:0] font_line;
     wire font_out;
 
-    // Font ROM contents
-    parameter ROM_FILENAME = "";
-
     // cpu control registers
     reg char_seen;
 
@@ -229,54 +227,72 @@ module vga #(
         begin
             vram_w_en <= 0;
 
-            // cursor overflow handling
-            if (h_cursor == 6'd40)
+            if (clr_screen)
             begin
+                // return to top of screen
                 h_cursor <= 6'd0;
-                v_cursor <= v_cursor + 'd1;
-            end
+                v_cursor <= 5'd0;
 
-            if (v_cursor == vram_end_addr)
-            begin
-                vram_start_addr <= vram_start_addr + 'd1;
-                vram_end_addr <= vram_end_addr + 'd1;
-            end
+                vram_start_addr <= 5'd0;
+                vram_end_addr <= 5'd23;
 
-            if (address == 1'b0) // address low == TX register
-            begin
-                if (enable & w_en & ~char_seen)
-                begin
-                    // incoming character
-                    char_seen <= 1;
-
-                    case(din)
-                    8'h8D: begin
-                        // handle carriage return
-                        h_cursor <= 0;
-                        v_cursor <= v_cursor + 'd1;
-                    end
-
-                    8'h7F: begin
-                        // ignore the DDR call to the PIA
-                        h_cursor <= 0;
-                    end
-
-                    default: begin
-                        vram_w_addr <= cursor;
-                        vram_din <= {~din[6], din[4:0]};
-                        vram_w_en <= 1;
-                        h_cursor <= h_cursor + 1;
-                    end
-                    endcase
-                end
-                else if(~enable & ~w_en)
-                    char_seen <= 0;
+                // clear the screen
+                vram_w_addr <= {vram_v_addr, vram_h_addr};
+                vram_din <= 6'd32;
+                vram_w_en <= 1;
             end
             else
             begin
-                vram_w_addr <= {vram_clr_addr, vram_h_addr};
-                vram_din <= 6'd32;
-                vram_w_en <= 1;
+                // cursor overflow handling
+                if (h_cursor == 6'd40)
+                begin
+                    h_cursor <= 6'd0;
+                    v_cursor <= v_cursor + 'd1;
+                end
+
+                if (v_cursor == vram_end_addr)
+                begin
+                    vram_start_addr <= vram_start_addr + 'd1;
+                    vram_end_addr <= vram_end_addr + 'd1;
+                end
+
+                if (address == 1'b0) // address low == TX register
+                begin
+                    if (enable & w_en & ~char_seen)
+                    begin
+                        // incoming character
+                        char_seen <= 1;
+
+                        case(din)
+                        8'h8D: begin
+                            // handle carriage return
+                            h_cursor <= 0;
+                            v_cursor <= v_cursor + 'd1;
+                        end
+
+                        8'h9B,
+                        8'h7F: begin
+                            // ignore the escape key
+                            h_cursor <= 0;
+                        end
+
+                        default: begin
+                            vram_w_addr <= cursor;
+                            vram_din <= {~din[6], din[4:0]};
+                            vram_w_en <= 1;
+                            h_cursor <= h_cursor + 1;
+                        end
+                        endcase
+                    end
+                    else if(~enable & ~w_en)
+                        char_seen <= 0;
+                end
+                else
+                begin
+                    vram_w_addr <= {vram_clr_addr, vram_h_addr};
+                    vram_din <= 6'd32;
+                    vram_w_en <= 1;
+                end
             end
         end
     end