diff --git a/Scale_space_reconstruction_3/include/CGAL/Scale_space_surface_reconstruction_3.h b/Scale_space_reconstruction_3/include/CGAL/Scale_space_surface_reconstruction_3.h
index 00d7042eea4..f4e4ee05fc3 100644
--- a/Scale_space_reconstruction_3/include/CGAL/Scale_space_surface_reconstruction_3.h
+++ b/Scale_space_reconstruction_3/include/CGAL/Scale_space_surface_reconstruction_3.h
@@ -228,7 +228,7 @@ private:
     void deinit_shape() { if( _shape != 0 ) { delete _shape; _shape = 0; } }
 
     void clear_tree() { _tree.clear(); }
-	void clear_surface() { _surface.clear(); deinit_shape(); }
+	void clear_surface() { _shells.clear(); _surface.clear(); deinit_shape(); }
     
     // SURFACE COLLECTION
 	// Once a facet is added to the surface, it is marked as handled.
diff --git a/Scale_space_reconstruction_3/include/CGAL/Scale_space_surface_reconstruction_3_impl.h b/Scale_space_reconstruction_3/include/CGAL/Scale_space_surface_reconstruction_3_impl.h
index b99abc37b85..069073134ec 100644
--- a/Scale_space_reconstruction_3/include/CGAL/Scale_space_surface_reconstruction_3_impl.h
+++ b/Scale_space_reconstruction_3/include/CGAL/Scale_space_surface_reconstruction_3_impl.h
@@ -470,8 +470,7 @@ template < class Gt, class FS, class Sh, class wA, class Ct >
 void
 Scale_space_surface_reconstruction_3<Gt,FS,Sh,wA,Ct>::
 collect_surface() {
-    _surface.clear();
-    _shells.clear();
+    clear_surface();
     if( !has_shape() )
         construct_shape();
     collect_facets();