diff --git a/Container.lua b/Container.lua
index bf31dff45..ce6cd4819 100644
--- a/Container.lua
+++ b/Container.lua
@@ -128,19 +128,21 @@ end
 
 function Container:clearState()
    -- don't call set because it might reset referenced tensors
-   local function clear(f)
-      if self[f] then
-         if torch.isTensor(self[f]) then
-            self[f] = self[f].new()
-         elseif type(self[f]) == 'table' then
-            self[f] = {}
-         else
-            self[f] = nil
+   local function clear(t)
+      if torch.isTensor(t) then
+         return t.new()
+      elseif type(t) == 'table' then
+         local cleared = {}
+         for k,v in pairs(t) do
+            cleared[k] = clear(v)
          end
+         return cleared
+      else
+         return nil
       end
    end
-   clear('output')
-   clear('gradInput')
+   if self.output then self.output = clear(self.output) end
+   if self.gradInput then self.gradInput = clear(self.gradInput) end
    if self.modules then
       for i,module in pairs(self.modules) do
          module:clearState()
diff --git a/Identity.lua b/Identity.lua
index 5e6ccb624..881c0c720 100644
--- a/Identity.lua
+++ b/Identity.lua
@@ -13,18 +13,20 @@ end
 
 function Identity:clearState()
    -- don't call set because it might reset referenced tensors
-   local function clear(f)
-      if self[f] then
-         if torch.isTensor(self[f]) then
-            self[f] = self[f].new()
-         elseif type(self[f]) == 'table' then
-            self[f] = {}
-         else
-            self[f] = nil
+   local function clear(t)
+      if torch.isTensor(t) then
+         return t.new()
+      elseif type(t) == 'table' then
+         local cleared = {}
+         for k,v in pairs(t) do
+            cleared[k] = clear(v)
          end
+         return cleared
+      else
+         return nil
       end
    end
-   clear('output')
-   clear('gradInput')
+   if self.output then self.output = clear(self.output) end
+   if self.gradInput then self.gradInput = clear(self.gradInput) end
    return self
 end
diff --git a/utils.lua b/utils.lua
index d81e2777b..4ef5c4ad2 100644
--- a/utils.lua
+++ b/utils.lua
@@ -175,18 +175,20 @@ function nn.utils.clear(self, ...)
    if #arg > 0 and type(arg[1]) == 'table' then
       arg = arg[1]
    end
-   local function clear(f)
-      if self[f] then
-         if torch.isTensor(self[f]) then
-            self[f]:set()
-         elseif type(self[f]) == 'table' then
-            self[f] = {}
-         else
-            self[f] = nil
+   local function clear(t)
+      if torch.isTensor(t) then
+         return t:set()
+      elseif type(t) == 'table' then
+         local cleared = {}
+         for k,v in pairs(t) do
+            cleared[k] = clear(v)
          end
+         return cleared
+      else
+         return nil
       end
    end
-   for i,v in ipairs(arg) do clear(v) end
+   for i,v in ipairs(arg) do if self[v] then self[v] = clear(self[v]) end end
    return self
 end