diff --git a/tools/cabana/messageswidget.cc b/tools/cabana/messageswidget.cc
index 28f79adad3..f39ce97684 100644
--- a/tools/cabana/messageswidget.cc
+++ b/tools/cabana/messageswidget.cc
@@ -42,6 +42,7 @@ MessagesWidget::MessagesWidget(QWidget *parent) : QWidget(parent) {
 
   // message filter
   QLineEdit *filter = new QLineEdit(this);
+  filter->setClearButtonEnabled(true);
   filter->setPlaceholderText(tr("filter messages"));
   main_layout->addWidget(filter);