diff --git a/src/Counters.cpp b/src/Counters.cpp
index fe26040449..0b17aa1b9b 100644
--- a/src/Counters.cpp
+++ b/src/Counters.cpp
@@ -265,6 +265,19 @@ int Counters::value(docstring const & ctr) const
 }
 
 
+void Counters::resetSlaves(docstring const & ctr)
+{
+	CounterList::iterator it = counterList_.begin();
+	CounterList::iterator const end = counterList_.end();
+	for (; it != end; ++it) {
+		if (it->second.master() == ctr) {
+			it->second.reset();
+			resetSlaves(it->first);
+		}
+	}
+}
+
+
 void Counters::step(docstring const & ctr, UpdateType utype)
 {
 	CounterList::iterator it = counterList_.find(ctr);
@@ -280,13 +293,8 @@ void Counters::step(docstring const & ctr, UpdateType utype)
 		counter_stack_.pop_back();
 		counter_stack_.push_back(ctr);
 	}
-	it = counterList_.begin();
-	CounterList::iterator const end = counterList_.end();
-	for (; it != end; ++it) {
-		if (it->second.master() == ctr) {
-			it->second.reset();
-		}
-	}
+
+	resetSlaves(ctr);
 }
 
 
diff --git a/src/Counters.h b/src/Counters.h
index ce122c4140..4ba0d00484 100644
--- a/src/Counters.h
+++ b/src/Counters.h
@@ -128,10 +128,10 @@ public:
 	void addto(docstring const & ctr, int val);
 	///
 	int value(docstring const & ctr) const;
-	/// Increment by one counter named by arg, and zeroes slave
+	/// Reset recursively all the counters that are slaves of the one named by \c ctr.
+	void resetSlaves(docstring const & ctr);
+	/// Increment by one counter named by \c ctr, and zeroes slave
 	/// counter(s) for which it is the master.
-	/// Sub-slaves are not zeroed! That happens at slave's first 
-	/// step 0->1. Seems to be sufficient.
 	/// \param utype determines whether we track the counters.
 	void step(docstring const & ctr, UpdateType utype);
 	/// Reset all counters, and all the internal data structures