diff --git a/panda/src/downloader/httpChannel.I b/panda/src/downloader/httpChannel.I
index c43da782b1..4f21354f89 100644
--- a/panda/src/downloader/httpChannel.I
+++ b/panda/src/downloader/httpChannel.I
@@ -275,6 +275,28 @@ get_file_size() const {
   return _file_size;
 }
 
+////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
+//     Function: HTTPChannel::reset
+//       Access: Published
+//  Description: Stops whatever file transaction is currently in
+//               progress, closes the connection, and resets to begin
+//               anew.  You shouldn't ever need to call this, since
+//               the channel should be able to reset itself cleanly
+//               between requests, but it is provided in case you are
+//               an especially nervous type.
+//
+//               Don't call this after every request unless you set
+//               set_persistent_connection() to false, since calling
+//               reset() rudely closes the connection regardless of
+//               whether we have told the server we intend to keep it
+//               open or not.
+////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
+INLINE void HTTPChannel::
+reset() {
+  reset_for_new_request();
+  free_bio();
+}
+
 ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
 //     Function: HTTPChannel::post_form
 //       Access: Published
diff --git a/panda/src/downloader/httpChannel.cxx b/panda/src/downloader/httpChannel.cxx
index 42c5d654e8..67a1fcc8d1 100644
--- a/panda/src/downloader/httpChannel.cxx
+++ b/panda/src/downloader/httpChannel.cxx
@@ -1214,13 +1214,7 @@ run_download_to_ram() {
 void HTTPChannel::
 begin_request(const string &method, const URLSpec &url, const string &body,
               bool nonblocking, size_t first_byte, size_t last_byte) {
-  reset_download_to();
-  _status_code = 0;
-  _status_string = string();
-  _redirect_trail.clear();
-  _last_status_code = 0;
-  _file_size = 0;
-  _bytes_downloaded = 0;
+  reset_for_new_request();
 
   // Changing the proxy, or the nonblocking state, is grounds for
   // dropping the old connection, if any.
@@ -1276,6 +1270,23 @@ begin_request(const string &method, const URLSpec &url, const string &body,
   _done_state = S_read_header;
 }
 
+////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
+//     Function: HTTPChannel::reset_for_new_request
+//       Access: Private
+//  Description: Resets the internal state variables in preparation
+//               for beginning a new request.
+////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
+void HTTPChannel::
+reset_for_new_request() {
+  reset_download_to();
+  _status_code = 0;
+  _status_string = string();
+  _redirect_trail.clear();
+  _last_status_code = 0;
+  _file_size = 0;
+  _bytes_downloaded = 0;
+}
+
 ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
 //     Function: HTTPChannel::http_getline
 //       Access: Private
diff --git a/panda/src/downloader/httpChannel.h b/panda/src/downloader/httpChannel.h
index b58b28271a..62d138f640 100644
--- a/panda/src/downloader/httpChannel.h
+++ b/panda/src/downloader/httpChannel.h
@@ -99,6 +99,8 @@ PUBLISHED:
 
   void write_headers(ostream &out) const;
 
+  INLINE void reset();
+
   INLINE bool post_form(const URLSpec &url, const string &body);
   INLINE bool get_document(const URLSpec &url);
   INLINE bool get_subdocument(const URLSpec &url, 
@@ -142,6 +144,7 @@ private:
   void begin_request(const string &method, const URLSpec &url, 
                      const string &body, bool nonblocking,
                      size_t first_byte, size_t last_byte);
+  void reset_for_new_request();
 
   bool http_getline(string &str);
   bool http_send(const string &str);