diff --git a/include/caosdb/protobuf_helper.h b/include/caosdb/protobuf_helper.h
index 63b2c54cdfaae5eef33705ac7074e11c1caf3653..55a229b697eeac5d292d9e4d73296665fb44c7ef 100644
--- a/include/caosdb/protobuf_helper.h
+++ b/include/caosdb/protobuf_helper.h
@@ -41,6 +41,7 @@ namespace caosdb::utility {
 using google::protobuf::Arena;
 
 auto get_arena() -> Arena *;
+auto reset_arena() -> void;
 
 /**
  * Abstract wrapper class for Protobuf messages.
diff --git a/src/caosdb/protobuf_helper.cpp b/src/caosdb/protobuf_helper.cpp
index 418d14b9c847bc204582f6165fae81bf6adcc156..6b1b867806d3386a6a99be2791cbee4530310dc7 100644
--- a/src/caosdb/protobuf_helper.cpp
+++ b/src/caosdb/protobuf_helper.cpp
@@ -30,4 +30,8 @@ auto get_arena() -> Arena * {
   return &arena;
 }
 
+auto reset_arena() -> void {
+  get_arena()->Reset();
+}
+
 } // namespace caosdb::utility