diff --git a/gtk/gtkmodelbutton.c b/gtk/gtkmodelbutton.c
index 501dc5e087..3d2e2519c4 100644
--- a/gtk/gtkmodelbutton.c
+++ b/gtk/gtkmodelbutton.c
@@ -1326,26 +1326,6 @@ gtk_model_button_class_init (GtkModelButtonClass *class)
   g_object_unref (action);
 }
 
-static void
-close_submenus (GtkPopover *popover)
-{
-  GtkPopoverMenu *menu;
-
-  if (GTK_IS_POPOVER_MENU (popover))
-    {
-      GtkWidget *submenu;
-
-      menu = GTK_POPOVER_MENU (popover);
-      submenu = gtk_popover_menu_get_open_submenu (menu);
-      if (submenu)
-        {
-          close_submenus (GTK_POPOVER (submenu));
-          gtk_popover_popdown (GTK_POPOVER (submenu));
-          gtk_popover_menu_set_open_submenu (menu, NULL);
-        }
-    }
-}
-
 static gboolean
 open_submenu (gpointer data)
 {
@@ -1363,7 +1343,7 @@ open_submenu (gpointer data)
           GtkWidget *submenu = button->popover;
 
           if (gtk_popover_menu_get_open_submenu (GTK_POPOVER_MENU (popover)) != submenu)
-            close_submenus (popover);
+            gtk_popover_menu_close_submenus (GTK_POPOVER_MENU (popover));
 
           gtk_popover_popup (GTK_POPOVER (submenu));
           gtk_popover_menu_set_open_submenu (GTK_POPOVER_MENU (popover), submenu);
diff --git a/gtk/gtkpopovermenu.c b/gtk/gtkpopovermenu.c
index c3f39ed0ce..d6e5f91887 100644
--- a/gtk/gtkpopovermenu.c
+++ b/gtk/gtkpopovermenu.c
@@ -189,6 +189,20 @@ gtk_popover_menu_set_open_submenu (GtkPopoverMenu *menu,
   menu->open_submenu = submenu;
 }
 
+void
+gtk_popover_menu_close_submenus (GtkPopoverMenu *menu)
+{
+  GtkWidget *submenu;
+
+  submenu = menu->open_submenu;
+  if (submenu)
+    {
+      gtk_popover_menu_close_submenus (GTK_POPOVER_MENU (submenu));
+      gtk_widget_hide (submenu);
+      gtk_popover_menu_set_open_submenu (menu, NULL);
+    }
+}
+
 GtkWidget *
 gtk_popover_menu_get_active_item (GtkPopoverMenu *menu)
 {
diff --git a/gtk/gtkpopovermenuprivate.h b/gtk/gtkpopovermenuprivate.h
index 6c3da47950..4e69627ad4 100644
--- a/gtk/gtkpopovermenuprivate.h
+++ b/gtk/gtkpopovermenuprivate.h
@@ -28,6 +28,8 @@ void       gtk_popover_menu_set_active_item  (GtkPopoverMenu *menu,
 GtkWidget *gtk_popover_menu_get_open_submenu (GtkPopoverMenu *menu);
 void       gtk_popover_menu_set_open_submenu (GtkPopoverMenu *menu,
                                               GtkWidget      *submenu);
+void       gtk_popover_menu_close_submenus   (GtkPopoverMenu *menu);
+
 GtkWidget *gtk_popover_menu_get_parent_menu  (GtkPopoverMenu *menu);
 void       gtk_popover_menu_set_parent_menu  (GtkPopoverMenu *menu,
                                               GtkWidget      *parent);