diff --git a/pywmreceived.py b/pywmreceived.py
index 782a308..3103740 100755
--- a/pywmreceived.py
+++ b/pywmreceived.py
@@ -116,6 +116,7 @@ class Application(wmoo.Application):
         ic("")
         ic(f"recepient: {recepient}")
         ic(f"message: {message}")
+        self.clear_messages()
 
     def draw_string(self, xstart, ystart, text):
         """
@@ -175,25 +176,21 @@ class Application(wmoo.Application):
         for index, line in enumerate(self.lines[:6]):
             self.draw_string(9, 6 + (index * line_height), line[0])
 
-    def toggle_backlight(self, event):
+    def toggle_backlite(self):
         """
         Toggle the state of the dockapp background
-
-        Parameters:
         """
         self.backlit = 1 - self.backlit
         self.draw_background()
         self.draw_all_text()
 
-    def backlight_off(self, event):
+    def backlite_off(self):
         """
         Turn off the backlight mode in response to a mouseclick
-
-        Parameters:
         """
         self._flasher = 0
         if self.backlit:
-            self.toggle_backlight(True)
+            self.toggle_backlite()
 
     def update(self):
         """
@@ -206,7 +203,27 @@ class Application(wmoo.Application):
         self._count = 0
         if self._flasher:
             self._flasher -= 1
-            self.toggle_backlight(True)
+            self.toggle_backlite()
+
+    def clear_messages(self):
+        """
+        Turn of backlite and zero out messages
+        """
+        self.backlite_off()
+
+    def handle_buttonrelease(self, event):
+        """
+        On left click zero out recieved messages and turn off backlite
+
+        Parameters:
+            event (dict):
+                button (int): 1 left click, 2 middle click, 3 right click
+                type (str): buttonrelease
+                x (int): x position of click
+                y (int): y position of click
+        """
+        if event['button'] == 1:
+            self.clear_messages()
 
     
 def run_glib_mainloop():
@@ -240,7 +257,7 @@ def main():
     # 6x7 grey1=1   grey2=10  green1=18 green2=27
     app.draw_background()
     app.draw_all_text()
-    app.addCallback(app.backlight_off, 'buttonrelease', area=(2,2,62,62))
+    app.addCallback(app.handle_buttonrelease, 'buttonrelease', area=(2,2,62,62))
 
     # Start the GLib main loop in a separate thread
     glib_thread = threading.Thread(target=run_glib_mainloop, daemon=True)