diff --git a/accessible/sidebar.component.js b/accessible/sidebar.component.js
index 832f041d4..de5ba6ebc 100644
--- a/accessible/sidebar.component.js
+++ b/accessible/sidebar.component.js
@@ -90,6 +90,7 @@ blocklyApp.SidebarComponent = ng.core.Component({
   },
   clearWorkspace: function() {
     blocklyApp.workspace.clear();
+    this.treeService.clearAllActiveDescs();
     // The timeout is needed in order to give the blocks time to be cleared
     // from the workspace, and for the 'workspace is empty' button to show up.
     setTimeout(function() {
diff --git a/accessible/tree.service.js b/accessible/tree.service.js
index c928919c8..b1c51dbc4 100644
--- a/accessible/tree.service.js
+++ b/accessible/tree.service.js
@@ -214,6 +214,16 @@ blocklyApp.TreeService = ng.core.Class({
           ' is invalid.');
     }
   },
+  clearAllActiveDescs: function() {
+    for (var treeId in this.activeDescendantIds_) {
+      var activeDesc = document.getElementById(this.getActiveDescId(treeId));
+      if (activeDesc) {
+        activeDesc.classList.remove('blocklyActiveDescendant');
+      }
+    }
+
+    this.activeDescendantIds_ = {};
+  },
 
   isTreeRoot_: function(element) {
     return element.classList.contains('blocklyTree');