diff --git a/docs/dev/Lua API.rst b/docs/dev/Lua API.rst
index 7f6c61c65..80277960f 100644
--- a/docs/dev/Lua API.rst	
+++ b/docs/dev/Lua API.rst	
@@ -2363,7 +2363,14 @@ Supported callbacks and fields are:
   where the above painting functions work correctly.
 
   If omitted, the screen is cleared; otherwise it should do that itself.
-  In order to make a see-through dialog, call ``self._native.parent:render()``.
+  In order to make a dialog where portions of the parent viewscreen are still
+  visible in the background, call ``screen:renderParent()``.
+
+  If artifacts are left on the parent even after this function is called, such
+  as when the window is dragged or is resized, any code can set
+  ``gui.Screen.request_full_screen_refresh`` to ``true``. Then when
+  ``screen.renderParent()`` is next called, it will do a full flush of the
+  graphics and clear the screen of artifacts.
 
 * ``function screen:onIdle()``
 
diff --git a/library/lua/gui.lua b/library/lua/gui.lua
index 1eaa9861a..31631b469 100644
--- a/library/lua/gui.lua
+++ b/library/lua/gui.lua
@@ -597,6 +597,7 @@ end
 Screen = defclass(Screen, View)
 
 Screen.text_input_mode = false
+Screen.request_full_screen_refresh = false
 
 function Screen:postinit()
     self:onResize(dscreen.getWindowSize())
@@ -622,7 +623,10 @@ function Screen:renderParent()
     else
         dscreen.clear()
     end
-    df.global.gps.force_full_display_count = 1
+    if Screen.request_full_screen_refresh then
+        df.global.gps.force_full_display_count = 1
+        Screen.request_full_screen_refresh = false
+    end
 end
 
 function Screen:sendInputToParent(...)
@@ -657,6 +661,8 @@ function Screen:dismiss()
     if self._native then
         dscreen.dismiss(self)
     end
+    -- don't leave artifacts behind on the parent screen when we disappear
+    Screen.request_full_screen_refresh = true
 end
 
 function Screen:onDismiss()
diff --git a/library/lua/gui/widgets.lua b/library/lua/gui/widgets.lua
index 73add1a9d..c8276750d 100644
--- a/library/lua/gui/widgets.lua
+++ b/library/lua/gui/widgets.lua
@@ -442,6 +442,9 @@ end
 -- if self.autoarrange_subviews is true, lay out visible subviews vertically,
 -- adding gaps between widgets according to self.autoarrange_gap.
 function Panel:postUpdateLayout()
+    -- don't leave artifacts behind on the parent screen when we move
+    gui.Screen.request_full_screen_refresh = true
+
     if not self.autoarrange_subviews then return end
 
     local gap = self.autoarrange_gap